Two more hunger strikers taken to hospital

Two illegal immigrants on hunger strike at the Hal Far detention centre were taken to hospital yesterday, a day after another two were also hospitalised.

This brings to five the number who have had to receive medical treatment at the hospital since the 30 immigrants went on hunger strike a week ago to protest against their prolonged detention.

The two taken to hospital yesterday were Isam Aberaiz, 34, and Abrahim Montason, 31, both of Sudan.

Meanwhile, Ramalla Yusef, 31, who was hospitalised on Wednesday, returned to the detention centre undeterred. Fr Dionysius Mintoff from the Peace Lab, who is visiting the migrants regularly, said Yusef has rejoined the hunger strikers after accepting only a drip at hospital.

Fr Mintoff said the strikers, who are also refusing liquids, were getting weaker but they refused to stop their action despite his and the police's efforts at persuasion.

He also expressed concern for an 18-year-old Palestinian immigrant who had been in detention at Hal Far for 18 months.