Some of the Chinese migrants who are being
held at the Burnaby Correctional Centre began a hunger strike this
weekend.
Forty-five women are refusing to
eat, but are still drinking water. They are frustrated at the slow
progress being made toward their release.
One refugee claimant says immigration officials tried to force
her to sign documents without having a lawyer present.
Victor Wong heads the Vancouver Association of Chinese Canadians.
He says some of the women have been in jail for over three months.
"It's a bit extradordinary because some Canadians having
committed very serious crimes don't have to spend three months in
jail."
Four boats smuggling nearly 600 people from the Chinese province
of Fujian were seized by Canadian officials off the coast of B.C.
last summer.
Most of the migrants have applied for refugee status. But they
remain in custody until their claims can be verified.
After dozens of migrants released from the first boat failed to
show up for their hearings, Immigration Canada began insisting on
the continued detention of all the migrants on the other boats.
