On the evening of June 18, the day when an attempted mass suicide of Chinese detainees occurred in the Villawood Detention Center (VIDC) in Sydney, Australia, a statement signed by 34 asylum seekers was sent out from VIDC. After 16 days of detention in VIDC and after an arranged interview with Chinese officials, the detainees for the first time openly exposed what happened in VIDC, the difficult situation they are facing, and the help they need from society.

Two days after the statement, some of the detainees who signed the statement attempted suicide. Here is the statement:

Date: 16 June 2005

To whom it may concern:

We are the detainees of Villawood Detention Center (VIDC) exposing an extraordinary incident that occurred inside VIDC.

On the 13th of May, four Chinese officers, 3 males and 1 female, came to VIDC. They said that they were from China and worked for the Chinese government. About 40 Chinese detainees were interviewed, with all the conversations being recorded. Detainees were asked name, date of birth, address in China, occupation in China and Australia, how long we had been in Australia, how long we had been detained, and whether or not we were seeking asylum. After the interrogation we were told to fill out voluntarily a form in both Chinese and English.

In fact, the four Chinese officers were holding the details of all the detainees, including marriage certificates, copies of passports and visas, our family members' details, and our applications for protection visas. We surmise that all the details that they had were given to them by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA). We were betrayed by the DIMIA.

After the interrogation every detainee who was interviewed by Chinese officers was locked and isolated in a small building in stage 2 called the “Manning Building.” DIMIA officers Jack Ma and Michelle Campbell followed a well-dressed officer from Canberra to the “Manning Building” and explained the reason for the isolation of the Chinese detainees. They advised that this was an important decision from the Chinese government and that it was what the government required.

We were not allowed to phone or fax for help from any legal organizations. We were in a helpless situation. We were cut off from all connections with the outside. On the 31st of May the DIMIA suddenly released us and let us go back to the normal life in detention. This incident finished in a peculiar fashion.

Under these circumstances we had much to doubt regarding the DIMIA’s behavior; we wondered why the Australian government had invited the Chinese government to cooperate and operate on Chinese asylum seekers. It is against the Refugee Convention, which Australia has signed with the UN.

Chinese detainees and asylum seekers became innocent lambs caught between the Chinese and Australian governments. We don’t want to be someone who would be sacrificed over free trade agreements between China and Australia.

All detainees who were interviewed by the Chinese officers feared deportation and being returned to China where we would be persecuted. The DIMIA officials gave all our details to the Chinese government. If we return to China the first thing that is certain is that we would be charged and locked up in jail.

We hope some people or organization that still has conscience and sympathy can help us. We intend to apply for protection visas in a group because we cannot imagine what would happen if we return to China. We are also concerned about our family members in China. Nobody can guarantee their safety. Everyone who has been betrayed needs your help.

We believe Australia is a democratic country, and that the freedom of communication is an implied constitutional right for everyone. The DIMIA violated the Australian Constitution by blocking our communications. We recognize this conduct to be an act of terror executed by DIMIA officials in an attempt to intimidate the Chinese detainees.

All we are offering is the truth. Behind razor wires, the DIMIA has started a concentration camp. The following page was signed by the all detainees who were kept imprisoned and cut off from the rest of the world in a building in Villawood detention for 16 days. Please assist and help us to fight for out rights. Thank you.

Yours Sincerely,

Victimized detainees and asylum seekers

(The Epoch Times)

(The Epoch Times)