One detainee we managed to talk to told us he is bruised all over his body, has injuries from handcuffs and has a twisted ankle amd possibly a broken wrist. He was assaulted for no reason other than reclaiming his human rights. He is still on hunger strike. He told us that he saw another detainee being grossly mishandled by police. This second detainee is now in a prison and cannot be contacted by phone.

The detainees' peaceful protest started the 1st of April from 9am, with a mass food refusal from the almost totality of the detainees in the centre. The detainees also occupied the courtyard . Around 120 remained in the courtyard all night.
A petition with 116 signature was sent to the Europen Court of Human Rights, John McDonnell MP and others. The detainees are complaining they are being deported without having their cases properly heard and that they are detained in the meantime, without having committed any crime and they are being abused by detention staff . The “fast track system” means that asylum seekers are not getting enough time to prepare their cases. Legal representation it is often of very poor quality. The detainees believe this is a violation of their human rights.
After failed negotiations with Immigration, food refusal resumed on Friday. On Saturday the repression began.
The detainees left in Harmondsworth are feeling very intimidated but they say they are coping. We believe the hunger strike in HArmondsworh is mainly over.
Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre is run by Kalyx, a subsidiary of multinational company Sodexo (formerly Sodexho).

Links:
Harmondsworth detainees' petition:  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395575.html
Detainees' statements:  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395251.html

 http://noborderslondon.blogspot.com/2008/04/protest-and-repression-in-harmondsworth.html