The Hunger Strike by 7 Kurdish asylum seekers who are protesting against Home Office treatment of Kurds from Iraq and the length of delay in processing their individual applications, remains solid and continues. The seven and their supporters are now ‘digging in’ for a fourth day on the road and pavement, outside the IND offices in Plymouth, Devon.

The original four have now gone 72 hours without food. All seven are in good spirits, morale is high and they are deeply grateful for the massive support they have received from local people, the media and from the asylum and refugee community in the City.

All seven were already malnourished prior to this action. Some were also in poor health. One man has recently undergone heart surgery and is due for follow-up operation, another is waiting for surgery in relation to injuries sustained following an Iraqi bomb attack on his village from which few survived and a third man suffers from long-term respiratory problems.

They spent the first night on the pavement under plastic sheeting and the last two nights in the back of a converted bus. This is an 'open-air' hunger strike, which presents different risks than an internal action from within a prison or detention centre.

Anyone having doubts that they are not going to see this through to the end - think again. All who have met and spoken with these men so far now fully understand that this is for real. Most have some problems in accepting that men are prepared to die on the streets of Plymouth, if they have to - but no-one doubts that this may happen, if the Home Office fails these men.

Large picket called for today from 12.00 onwards. Heavy rain in Plymouth - so come prepared . Campaign support meeting later today - will post more detailed report later.

Jon McKenzie