MORE LANKAN ASYLUM SEEKERS ON NAURU CHOOSE TO RETURN HOME
They said rather than die day-by-day, they'd rather die fighting for their rights
Another group of asylum seekers has decided to voluntarily return home instead of staying at the detention centre in Nauru.
The Australian Immigration Department says 11 Sri Lankan men have chosen not to pursue their asylum claims.
Under Australia's new immigration laws, asylum seekers who arrive by boat are being sent to Nauru or Papua New Guinea's Manus Island for processing.
Earlier this week a group of Iraqi and Iranian asylum seekers decided to return home rather than wait for their claims to be processed on Nauru.
There are currently 377 asylum seekers being held on Nauru under an agreement with the Australian Government.
News of the latest departures comes as a hunger strike at the detention centre enters its fourth day.
Asylum seekers taking part in the protest are calling for better treatment at Nauru and more information about when their claims will be processed.
A refugee advocacy group says the protesters are prepared to die for the cause.
The Refugee Action Coalition's spokesman, Ian Rintoul, has been in contact with asylum seekers on the island.
He says 300 people are refusing food and water, and 25 have collapsed and required medical treatment.
"They said rather than die day-byday, they'd rather die fighting for their rights," he said.
Mr Rintoul says the hunger strikers have had no response from the Department of Immigration.
He says the department is risking lives by not responding to the demands of the asylum seekers. "They want their processing to begin immediately, I don't know whether just seeing someone from the department would be sufficient," he said.
(Radio Australia)