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'Riot' at Christmas Island migrant camp as detainee dies 'Major disturbance' and fires at Christmas Island detention centre
(about 2 hours later)
Australian immigration officials say a "disturbance" is taking place at a detention centre for immigrants on Christmas Island. Inmates have lit fires at Australia's Christmas Island detention centre in a "major disturbance" that is yet to be resolved, say government officials.
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 The immigration department confirmed in a statement that guards had been withdrawn for "safety reasons".
One man being held at the centre told New Zealand's TVNZ that guards had abandoned the centre after "riots". Medical, educational and sporting facilities have been damaged.
Australia's Department of Immigration said there were reports of damage. The statement denied a "large-scale riot" was taking place but said the situation at the centre for refugees and asylum seekers was "tense".
But it said in a statement that the perimeter of the centre remained secure and there were no reports of injuries. The Christmas Island centre also houses New Zealanders facing deportation from Australia.
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. Inmate's death 'sparked riot'
They are also sent to Manus Island in Papua New Guinea and Nauru in the South Pacific. The unrest is believed to have started after inmates became suspicious about the death of an Iranian Kurd named Fazel Chegeni, who escaped from the facility on Saturday.
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. Mr Chegeni's body was found at the bottom of a cliff one day later, the Department of Immigration said. A report on his death was being prepared for the coroner.
Media in New Zealand said the man who escaped on Saturday was an Iranian Kurd named Fazel Chegeni. "The protest action began when a small group of Iranian detainees took part in a peaceful protest following the escape from, and death outside the centre, of a detainee on Sunday," the statement said.
His body was found a day later, Australia's Department of Immigration and Border Protection said. The death is now being investigated. "While peaceful protest is permissible, other detainees took advantage of the situation to engage in property damage and general unrest."
"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. Ian Rintoul, of the Refugee Action Coalition group, told the Sydney Morning Herald that Mr Chegeni was "suffering the effects of long-term arbitrary detention".
"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'," he said.
Guards 'freaked out' 'Fires everywhere'
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. ABC News quoted a 25-year-old detainee, Matej Cuperka, who said he feared for his safety.
"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. "They are starting fires everywhere … they have broken into the canteen, into the property area," Mr Cuperka, was quoted as saying earlier.
One detainee, Ricky Downs, told TVNZ the guards "freaked out and left". "There are cars full of officers driving around the complex. They are just having a look through the window, but nobody is helping us."
"There are fires everywhere, holes in the wall and the canteen has been smashed to pieces," he said. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the Christmas Island centre was "in meltdown".
The immigration department said it was working to "restore the good order of the centre". "I have spoken with people who are locked up in the centre and they say that there is widespread unrest and fires across the facility," Ms Hanson-Young said.
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. "With all Serco guards being removed from the centre late last night, the people who are locked up there are being left to fend for themselves."
Ms Hanson-Young said she was concerned that asylum seekers had been locked up with other detainees, putting them "at risk".
"The government was warned repeatedly about the increasingly toxic situation on Christmas Island but, regrettably, those warnings were ignored," she said.
Controversial policy
Australia sends intercepted asylum seekers to Christmas Island, a remote outpost 2,650km (1,650 miles) north-west of Perth and 380km south of Java in Indonesia.
Others are sent to Manus Island in Papua New Guinea and Nauru in the South Pacific.
The government says the journey the asylum seekers make by sea to reach Australia 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.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.
The number of New Zealanders held on Christmas Island has increased since Canberra began cancelling visas of those with criminal records.