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Unrest at Australia's Christmas Island detention centre after refugee's death Unrest at Australia's Christmas Island detention centre after refugee's death
(about 9 hours later)
Inmates at a notorious detention centre on Australia’s Christmas Island have lit fires amid widespread unrest prompted by the death of an Iranian detainee.Inmates at a notorious detention centre on Australia’s Christmas Island have lit fires amid widespread unrest prompted by the death of an Iranian detainee.
Guards were withdrawn for “safety reasons”, Australia’s immigration department said in a statement. It described the situation as tense but denied the disturbance was a large-scale riot.Guards were withdrawn for “safety reasons”, Australia’s immigration department said in a statement. It described the situation as tense but denied the disturbance was a large-scale riot.
The site is one of several offshore detention centres that hold asylum seekers who travelled by boat to Australia. The Christmas Island centre also holds New Zealanders whose Australian visas were cancelled because of criminal records, and who are awaiting deportation.The site is one of several offshore detention centres that hold asylum seekers who travelled by boat to Australia. The Christmas Island centre also holds New Zealanders whose Australian visas were cancelled because of criminal records, and who are awaiting deportation.
The protests followed the death of Iranian Kurdish refugee Fazel Chegeni, whose body was discovered by search and rescue teams on Sunday at the bottom of cliffs on the island. He had escaped from the detention centre on Friday.The protests followed the death of Iranian Kurdish refugee Fazel Chegeni, whose body was discovered by search and rescue teams on Sunday at the bottom of cliffs on the island. He had escaped from the detention centre on Friday.
“The cause of his death is not currently known and a report is being prepared for the coroner,” a government spokesman said.“The cause of his death is not currently known and a report is being prepared for the coroner,” a government spokesman said.
On Monday, tributes were paid to Chegani, whom friends called “a generous, kind, private and deeply humble man” who had suffered torture in his home country.On Monday, tributes were paid to Chegani, whom friends called “a generous, kind, private and deeply humble man” who had suffered torture in his home country.
“He was usually wearing the same clothes, as he was the type of man who actually did give the shirt off his own back to anyone who asked,” said Robyn Bean, who met Chegani while he was in detention in Brisbane. Bean described him as a gentle man, who worked out daily and practised meditation and yoga. “He was usually wearing the same clothes, as he was the type of man who actually did give the shirt off his own back to anyone who asked,” said a friend who met Chegani while he was in detention in Brisbane. The friend described him as a gentle man, who worked out daily and practised meditation and yoga.
Up to 200 inmates began rioting late on Sunday night and disturbances continued until the early hours, according to activists on the site. Ian Rintoul, spokesman for Refugee Action Coalition, said fences and walls had been knocked down and fires started in some sections of the detention centre had caused extensive damage.Up to 200 inmates began rioting late on Sunday night and disturbances continued until the early hours, according to activists on the site. Ian Rintoul, spokesman for Refugee Action Coalition, said fences and walls had been knocked down and fires started in some sections of the detention centre had caused extensive damage.
New Zealand Labour MP Kelvin Davis, who recently visited the island, said he had been told that detainees had taken over the centre and guards had retreated.New Zealand Labour MP Kelvin Davis, who recently visited the island, said he had been told that detainees had taken over the centre and guards had retreated.
On Monday morning, most of the detainees were huddled together on a sports ground outside the detention centre, Davis said. “There’s safety in numbers there and they want to be outside.On Monday morning, most of the detainees were huddled together on a sports ground outside the detention centre, Davis said. “There’s safety in numbers there and they want to be outside.
“They’re scared. They’ve asked me to try and get New Zealand consulate people over to Christmas Island to be witness to the injuries that they believe they’re going to receive in the coming days.”“They’re scared. They’ve asked me to try and get New Zealand consulate people over to Christmas Island to be witness to the injuries that they believe they’re going to receive in the coming days.”
The behaviour of guards was stoking the unrest, he said. “They’re scared that these guys will come in with batons waving, rather than trying to calm the situation in the first instance,” Davis said. “I don’t think that the situation will be helped if they come in guns blazing, so to speak.”The behaviour of guards was stoking the unrest, he said. “They’re scared that these guys will come in with batons waving, rather than trying to calm the situation in the first instance,” Davis said. “I don’t think that the situation will be helped if they come in guns blazing, so to speak.”
A New Zealand detainee earlier told TVNZ that guards had abandoned the centre. “They’ve gone, they’ve freaked out and left,” he said, according to audio provided to ABC radio.A New Zealand detainee earlier told TVNZ that guards had abandoned the centre. “They’ve gone, they’ve freaked out and left,” he said, according to audio provided to ABC radio.
On Monday morning, Australia’s immigration department said the facility was calm, with the border fence secured, and centre staff were trying to restore order.On Monday morning, Australia’s immigration department said the facility was calm, with the border fence secured, and centre staff were trying to restore order.
“Negotiations are continuing with those detainees engaging in protest action with a view to resolving the situation peacefully and as soon as possible,” it said in a statement, which also claimed most of those involved were convicted criminals whose visas were cancelled under section 501 of Australia’s Migration Act.“Negotiations are continuing with those detainees engaging in protest action with a view to resolving the situation peacefully and as soon as possible,” it said in a statement, which also claimed most of those involved were convicted criminals whose visas were cancelled under section 501 of Australia’s Migration Act.
Concerns have frequently been raised by human rights groups about Australia’s offshore detention centres. Last February, another Iranian refugee was killed during unrest at the centre on Manus Island in northern Papua New Guinea. A Salvation Army worker and a camp guard are due to stand trial for his murder later this month.Concerns have frequently been raised by human rights groups about Australia’s offshore detention centres. Last February, another Iranian refugee was killed during unrest at the centre on Manus Island in northern Papua New Guinea. A Salvation Army worker and a camp guard are due to stand trial for his murder later this month.
Bean said he had had a sense of foreboding in the months leading up until Chegani’s death, before he was taken to the detention centre. “Perhaps it was the heightened intuition he had as the result of never having received an education, but before he was taken to Darwin, he confided in his friend that he knew his life was coming to an end,” Bean said. A friend said he had had a sense of foreboding in the months leading up until Chegani’s death, before he was taken to the detention centre. “Perhaps it was the heightened intuition he had as the result of never having received an education, but before he was taken to Darwin, he confided in his friend that he knew his life was coming to an end.
“Apparently he could sense that his time was almost up – not meaning he intended to commit suicide, but rather that he was being ‘called back’.“Apparently he could sense that his time was almost up – not meaning he intended to commit suicide, but rather that he was being ‘called back’.
“He suffered torture in Iran, prolonged detention here ... but he didn’t blame anyone and chose to work determinedly on his own faults instead,” Bean said. “He bore everything with great patience and never complained, despite being trapped in a pain-ridden body that was locked up for years without explanation.” “He suffered torture in Iran, prolonged detention here ... but he didn’t blame anyone and chose to work determinedly on his own faults instead,” the friend said. “He bore everything with great patience and never complained, despite being trapped in a pain-ridden body that was locked up for years without explanation.”