Migrants suspend 'hunger strike'

Irregular immigrants at the Floriana detention centre have suspended what they claimed to be a three-day hunger strike, following a meeting with the Commissioner for Refugees yesterday.

But the frustrated immigrants insist they are prepared to take further action if their constant appeals for a shorter detention period keep falling on deaf ears.

A spokesman for the immigrants at Floriana called The Times yesterday claiming that 90 of the 114 detainees had been refusing food since Friday.

A 25-year old Liberian said the immigrants were banking on Commissioner Charles Buttigieg's promise to forward their request to the government to slash the period of detention.

"If we were criminals or trouble-makers then I understand why we keep being held in detention. But we've done nothing wrong," he argued.

The Liberian said he wanted to leave Malta to meet his family in Italy.

An engineer from Nigeria later also relayed his frustration at the situation, saying the immigrants were justified in wanting to know how long they would be detained.

The Nigerian, who refused to give his name saying he feared repercussions, said he was forced to flee his country because he was among the minority Christians that have been persecuted for years.

"Why am I being locked up when I can contribute to your taxes rather than rely on government handouts.

But ultimately I want my travel documents so I can meet up with my family in Bristol, England," he said.

When contacted, Mr Buttigieg confirmed that he held a meeting with three representatives of the detainees yesterday, after they requested to meet him on Friday.

Mr Buttigieg said he had given the immigrants the answers requested in what was a "civil" discussion. He gave no further comments.

Tempers often flare at detention centres as immigrants despair at what they claim to be unfair periods of detention until their cases are settled.

A letter delivered to The Times on behalf of the Safi detainees over the weekend expressed the frustration against the length of detention.

Amendments to the Refugee and Immigration Act last August mean that individuals with applications for asylum still pending a definitive decision after 18 months have generally been released.

As more immigrants continue to land here and the number given humanitarian protection increases, over 800 refugees are now living in open centres.

Malta has proposed resettling a number of refugees to other EU member states, in a desperate attempt to share the burden of illegal immigration.