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'Riot' at Christmas Island migrant camp as detainee dies | 'Riot' at Christmas Island migrant camp as detainee dies |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Australian immigration officials say a "disturbance" is taking place at a detention centre for immigrants on Christmas Island. | Australian immigration officials say a "disturbance" is taking place at a detention centre for immigrants on Christmas Island. |
The trouble was reported early on Monday, a day after the body of a man who escaped from the centre was found near cliffs. | The trouble was reported early on Monday, a day after the body of a man who escaped from the centre was found near cliffs. |
One man being held at the centre told New Zealand's TVNZ that guards had abandoned the centre after "riots". | One man being held at the centre told New Zealand's TVNZ that guards had abandoned the centre after "riots". |
Australia's Department of Immigration said there were reports of damage. | Australia's Department of Immigration said there were reports of damage. |
But it said in a statement that the perimeter of the centre remained secure and there were no reports of injuries. | But it said in a statement that the perimeter of the centre remained secure and there were no reports of injuries. |
Australia sends asylum seekers to Christmas Island, a remote outpost 2,650km (1,650 miles) north-west of Perth and 380km south of Java in Indonesia. | Australia sends asylum seekers to Christmas Island, a remote outpost 2,650km (1,650 miles) north-west of Perth and 380km south of Java in Indonesia. |
They are also sent to Manus Island in Papua New Guinea and Nauru in the South Pacific. | They are also sent to Manus Island in Papua New Guinea and Nauru in the South Pacific. |
The Christmas Island centre also houses New Zealanders facing deportation. The number of New Zealanders in the centre has increased since Canberra began cancelling visas of those with criminal records. | The Christmas Island centre also houses New Zealanders facing deportation. The number of New Zealanders in the centre has increased since Canberra began cancelling visas of those with criminal records. |
Media in New Zealand said the man who escaped on Saturday was an Iranian Kurd named Fazel Chegeni. | Media in New Zealand said the man who escaped on Saturday was an Iranian Kurd named Fazel Chegeni. |
His body was found a day later, Australia's Department of Immigration and Border Protection said. The death is now being investigated. | His body was found a day later, Australia's Department of Immigration and Border Protection said. The death is now being investigated. |
"Like so many others, Fazel was suffering the effects of long-term arbitrary detention," Ian Rintoul, of the Refugee Action Coalition group, told the Sydney Morning Herald. | "Like so many others, Fazel was suffering the effects of long-term arbitrary detention," Ian Rintoul, of the Refugee Action Coalition group, told the Sydney Morning Herald. |
"He had told other detainees that he could no longer stand being in detention and just wanted 'to go outside'." | "He had told other detainees that he could no longer stand being in detention and just wanted 'to go outside'." |
Guards 'freaked out' | Guards 'freaked out' |
Kelvin Davis, an MP with New Zealand's opposition Labour party, visited the Christmas Island centre last month and remains in contact with people there. | Kelvin Davis, an MP with New Zealand's opposition Labour party, visited the Christmas Island centre last month and remains in contact with people there. |
"A detainee was asking a guard how that person died and got punched in the face for his efforts and that's what's really set things off," he told Radio NZ. | "A detainee was asking a guard how that person died and got punched in the face for his efforts and that's what's really set things off," he told Radio NZ. |
One detainee, Ricky Downs, told TVNZ the guards "freaked out and left". | One detainee, Ricky Downs, told TVNZ the guards "freaked out and left". |
"There are fires everywhere, holes in the wall and the canteen has been smashed to pieces," he said. | "There are fires everywhere, holes in the wall and the canteen has been smashed to pieces," he said. |
The immigration department said it was working to "restore the good order of the centre". | The immigration department said it was working to "restore the good order of the centre". |
The government says the journey the asylum seekers make is dangerous and controlled by criminal gangs and they have a duty to stop it. Critics say opposition to asylum is often racially motivated and is damaging Australia's reputation. | The government says the journey the asylum seekers make is dangerous and controlled by criminal gangs and they have a duty to stop it. Critics say opposition to asylum is often racially motivated and is damaging Australia's reputation. |
Its policy was branded a "disaster" by Human Rights Watch's Australia director in July. The group also raised concern over conditions at the Manus camp. | Its policy was branded a "disaster" by Human Rights Watch's Australia director in July. The group also raised concern over conditions at the Manus camp. |
Last February, an Iranian man was killed during a riot at the camp on Manus. The trial of a Salvation Army worker and a camp guard accused over his murder restarts later this month. |