The Abbott government denied reports that detained asylum seekers at the Manus Island facility are on a hunger strike.  But there are reports that 15 people have sewn their lips shut in protest of poor conditions at the processing center, and one reportedly swallowed razor blades.

The ABC spoke with an asylum seeker who claims to have translated for the health care workers attempting to treat the man, reportedly an Egyptian Christian who tried to come to Australia to escape religious persecution.

“He go and swallow four razor (blades),” the man said in broken English.  “He vomit one and three (are) still inside his body.”  The translator continued, “His body become white, his skin become totally white.. and his leg.. become blue, so terrible.”

The tale came as news emerged that 400 Manus Island detainees were on a hunger strike, with 15 going so far as to sew their mouths shut.  They were photographed holding a sign reading, “We are asylum seekers (and) fear to be resettled in PNG please hand us to the United Nations.”

Australia's Immigration Department runs the centre and confirmed that detainees were protesting, but said it was a passive protest and asylum seekers were not refusing food.