More tear gas was used by Australian Federal Police against detainees on Christmas Island last night, as asylum seekers continue to protest against conditions on the island and the length of time taken to process claims.
The AFP has confirmed Operational Response Group members were forced to use tear gas on detainees at North West Point detention centre around 8pm last night after a protest got out of hand. According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, around 250 detainees were involved in the protest. Fires were also lit, but they were small and contained within wheelie bins, a spokesperson said.
According to the AFP, protesters ignored repeated warnings from the AFP and advanced on them with “impoverished weapons”, including rocks. During the incident some staff of Serco, managers of the centre, and vulnerable detainees took refuge in the front reception of the detention centre.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen told ABC Radio in Perth this morning that an increasing number of rejection rates was going to lead to more protests.
“Clearly we need to reduce the numbers on Christmas Island … as a response to this issue,” he said. “Numbers on Christmas Island are high. I’ve taken steps to reduce numbers.”
Bowen also said there were “well over 80” AFP officers stationed on the island, who would stay “for as long as they are required”.
The latest response comes after around 200 detainees broke out of the detention centre on Saturday and Sunday to hold a protest at the Christmas Island airport. AFP members used tear gas and less lethal munitions — also known as “bean bag” rounds — to quell the protest after it began to turn violent. Last night’s incident marks the latest in a string of protests at the centre, Bowen has called an “orchestrated campaign”.
According to an AFP spokesperson, the use of tear gas last night was in accordance with the provisions of Commissioners Orders on Use of Force. They did not say whether bean bag bullets had been used on the protesters.
Bowen has said Sunday’s initial violence was triggered when security officers handcuffed 10 accused ringleaders of the breakout. But refugee advocates have also raised issues with Serco’s actions during the initial protests, including the use of detention centre staff — chefs and kitchen hands, among others — to provide a “show of force” during the initial disturbance.
DIAC told Crikey to speak to Serco about the claims, while Serco advised it was more appropriate to speak to DIAC. And a spokesperson for the minister’s office denied the claims.
Concerns have also been raised about the protesters on Christmas Island and their access to services, including legal advice. Bowen has already said the visa claims of protests will be delayed.
An independent “arm’s length” inquiry will be held into the handling of the Christmas Island incident. According to DIAC, the AFP’s use of force will be investigated, as will Serco and DIAC’s response. It’s still unclear as to who will be holding the investigation and how it would remain independent. A spokesperson for DIAC told Crikey details of the inquiry would be relased “in due course”.
On Wednesday, a group of Rohingyan asylum seekers were protesting on the roof of a building at Darwin’s northern immigration detention centre. Refugee advocates say the protest ended when DIAC flagged an inquiry into the actions of two security guards. DIAC has confirmed to Crikey there was another disturbance overnight at the Asti Motel in Darwin, where around 20 residents protested in the carpark.
Summary justice in Detention.
The Rohingyans in DARWIN NIDC protested both yesterday and today because of a physical assault on a fellow Rohingyan.
One man was refused rice in the mess room. Out of frustration he broke a glass.
He was then chased down and tried to escape from two SERCO guards. When caught, he was held down by the throat, punched twice and kicked.
They do not know the name of the guards who attacked them but one is of Singaporean descent and one is of New Guinean descent.
After he was assaulted they asked that he be taken to receive medial treatment but the SERCO guards refused and said he was going to be placed in solitary confinement.
The Rohingyans then got on the roof in protest. During the protest a computer was damaged by one Rohingyan who has been in detention for 17 months and is suffering from depression.
Background to above.
The guard of New Guinean descent, who teaches boxing at NIDC, had been using a MP3 player belonging to one of the Rohingyans whilst conducting boxing classes.
The MP3 player and a phone card had been taken from there rooms by someone when they had to move compounds because of a protest held a number of months ago by Indonesian fisherman.
When the Rohingyans informed SERCO staff that he was using their MP3 player it was returned to them.
After that incident SERCO told the Rohingyans that the man would no longer be working near them.
It was only yesterday that he returned to working near the Rohingyans and the incident happened.
The SERCO case manager for the man that was assaulted invited him to make a formal complaint to police regarding the assault but he declined to.
Bravo to the Pro-Democracy Iranian Freedom fighters now locked up on Christmas Island. Tear gas has not deterred them from peaceful protest.
Asylum seekers on Christmas Island have told the refugee Action
Coalition that tear gas was used on a peaceful protest on Christmas
Island last night (ie Wednesday night).
A group of around 400 asylum seekers were walking in the open area of
the detention centre in an attempt to speak to media representatives
on the island.
The asylum seekers were carrying white sheets and strips of toilet
paper to show that they were peaceful. “We asked, ‘Please don’t
shoot.’ ” They even had flowers to give to the police within the
centre.
The police said, “We cannot let you speak to the media. You must go
back to your compounds.”
After telling the protesters that police could help, when
representatives of the asylum seekers met with the police, they were
told again that they would not be allowed to speak with the media.
The police ordered the asylum seekers to return to their compounds and
then used tear gas to disperse the peaceful crowd.
“Twice now the police have launched attacks on peaceful protests
inside the Christmas Island detention centre. It is not the asylum
seekers who are out of control, it is Serco, the police and the
Department of Immigration. The best thing that could be done to lift
the tension in the detention centre is to free those being held in Red
Compound and to remove the police from the centre. It’s time to take
the tear gas and the shot guns off the police,” said Ian Rintoul.