Five detained Sri Lankan refugees who have been on a hunger strike since last Thursday have been admitted to hospital for exhaustion.

They have been demanding to be sent to any third country that is prepared to accept them.

In April, the Malaysian authorities found a fishing trawler hit by mechanical fault and detained the 75 refugees on board. They comprise 61 men, seven women and seven children aged between 10 and 17.

There have since been complaints that they have not been given clean water and food.   

Officers from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have visited the detainees, with the bad news that they are not in a position to meet their demand.

However, the UNHCR has also told them it is willing to persuade the immigration department and the Home Ministry to release them.

The department has since charged one of detainees under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007.

The detainees can be sent back after the court’s decision or during the period of the Protection Order after the initial three months.
 
Malaysian human rights group Suaram is looking into the possibility of appointing lawyers to seek their release.