Campsfield hunger striker sick

Kola Tunde Jinadu was admitted to hospital from Campsfield House on Friday.

He and a Russian man have been drinking only water in protest at Home Office minister Mike O'Brien failure to speak to detainees on a recent visit to the centre, in Langford Lane, Kidlington. Another 62 who started the strike with them have given up.

Meanwhile, campaigners are livid that a religious man who helped detainees write to Mr O'Brien has been sent to Rochester Prison.

Nigerian asylum seeker middle-aged Abijola Kasumu, who led daily prayers at the detention centre, is described as a dignified, religious man and was spokesman for the detainees.

Group 4 guards patrolling the centre told Mr Kasumu his actions "compromised security" and ordered him out on Thursday afternoon.

Close Campsfield campaigner Bill MacKeith said: "Mr Kasumu did play a role in assisting all the detainees to express their complaints about being wrongfully imprisoned, and he has been victimised because of it." "What has that go to do with 'security'? He is a very restrained and dignified man so to talk about compromising security is a farce. He is an extremely polite man."

Fellow protester Teresa Hayter said: "It is abominable. He was a spokesman for the people that went on hunger strike and he was the one who talked to Group 4 and negotiated.

"He should not be sent to Rochester for peacefully protesting and writing to Mike O'Brien.

"They do not like anybody speaking out or trying to improve conditions in Campsfield."

A Home Office spokesman said: "Kasumu was the only person moved from Campsfield to Rochester. He was moved at the request of Group 4 management under contractual obligations on the grounds of safety and security."

"There were concerns about the sit-in and the health, safety and security of the individuals there."

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