Children Freed From Villawood
Sun Herald
Sunday November 14, 2004
FOUR Australian-born children are finally being released from Villawood Detention Centre this week but their Fijian mother, who is facing deportation, is being kept behind bars.
The two eldest children of Seseana Naikelekele were released from Villawood on Friday into the custody of a relative.Sally, 12, and Jope, 10, are Australian citizens because they have been in Australia for more than 10 years. However, they spent more than two months in Villawood.Their siblings Mereani, 6, and Lomani, 4, have spent the past two years behind the wire at Villawood, but will be released this week into the custody of another relative.Ms Naikelekele said she decided to leave her four eldest children behind in Australia because they would have a better life here.She is due to be deported for overstaying her visa 15 years ago once legal complications are resolved over her taking her youngest child, Glen, 3, with her to Fiji. Glen, whose father is an Australian resident, is an Australian citizen.
© 2004 Sun Herald