OZschwitz: Detainees would rather die than be sent back to China

Two Chinese men have climbed onto the roof of Villawood detention centre in a desperate bid to avoid deportation back to their homeland, a refugee advocate says.

Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said the two men, who have been in detention for two and four years, are determined not to budge from the third storey of the Manning building at stage two of the centre, which they climbed about 8am yesterday.

Mr Rintoul said other detainees had placed mattresses and blankets on the ground, fearing the men would jump.

"The other detainees are pretty astonished that they managed to get on top of Manning but they are pretty determined," Mr Rintoul said.

"It's not clear whether they are on a hunger strike but they certainly are not eating."

Mr Rintoul said the men, one of whom is believed to be a Falun Gong practitioner, took the extreme action after they were among detainees listed for deportation by Immigration Minister, Senator Chris Evans, on Friday.

"There's been a spate of deportations," Mr Rintoul said.

"A lot of the people are saying they would rather die here than be sent back to China.

"One of the people deported in the past two weeks was actually deported from hospital after swallowing his toothbrush. It had to be surgically removed."

Mr Rintoul said it will be extremely difficult for authorities to reach the Chinese men.

"In any case [authorities] are fearful they will jump," he said. "I think it's going to be a stand-off for some time."

Mr Rintoul said the coalition would stage a rally at the Department for Immigration and Citizenship today, partly in support of the Chinese men.

A spokeswoman for the department said the private company that operated the centre was "monitoring the situation, which remains calm".

"Staff including an interpreter are continuing to engage with the men and encouraging them to come down from the roof," she said.

"There are no medical issues, a medical team is available should it be required."

The spokeswoman said the men had been provided with food, water and bedding, but would not say whether the men had taken the food and water.

She would also not be drawn on whether the men's actions would have any bearing on the decision to deport them.

"The department does not discuss the outcomes of individual cases," she said.

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OZschwitz: Detainees would rather die than be sent back to China

OZschwitz: Detainees would rather die than be sent back to China

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