Australian immigration say they will deport man on hunger strike
December 07 2009 by Liam Clifford
Canadian man on hunger strike after repeatedly failing in his bid for an Australian visa
A 54-year old Canadian citizen is commencing his fifth day on hunger-strike at an Australian immigration detention centre, in protest at his imminent deportation to Canada on Wednesday. Australian immigration officials say it is then that he will be put on a flight back to Vancouver.
Although Ziad Chebib has lived in Australia for more than a decade, he has repeatedly failed in his attempts at gaining permanent residence in the country.
Chebib, who is originally from Lebanon left for Canada in 1976 and settled in Calgary, where he became a permanent citizen. However missing his family he decided to sell both his homes he owned with his wife and move with his four children to Australia, in 2000. Two of his sons have permanent residency in Australia.
Australian immigration says that Chebib “has no lawful basis to remain in Australia” and has already been rejected at eight separate hearings for an Australian visa.
Chebib’s case is not helped by the fact that his wife and son have already voluntarily left for Lebanon, he says after pressure was applied by Australian immigration.
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