Lampedusa Update

Of the 78 women who have already been transferred to the new Cie ('centre of identification and expulsion') camp under construction at the ex- NATO Loran base on Lampedusa, 16 (12 from Tunisia and four from Morocco) have gone on hunger strike against their possible expulsion.

In Lampedusa itself, there was a general strike on Tuesday 27th and around 50 migrants, who have not returned to the 'reception' centre, are still sheltering on the island and the locals are feeding them. The Italian government also launched a public attack on Lampedusa's mayor, saying that he was guilt of leading the protests!

Meanwhile, in Massa, Tuscany police and carabinieri in riot gear attacked a demonstration of refugees, mainly from Somalia and Eritrea. Some refugees were injured and others were forcibly taken by the police back to the Red Cross centre where they were housed. About 50 people, many of them women, were protesting about delays in processing applications for refugee status and permits to remain. They occupied the centre of the town, blocking traffic and refused to move, asking to see a representative from the UN. Meanwhile they declared they were starting a hunger strike. Many of these refugees were part of a group of 104 persons transferred in August from Lampedusa.