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Australian government says Christmas Island is calm after riots Australian government says Christmas Island is calm after riots
(35 minutes later)
The Australian government and refugee advocates are at odds over the condition of the Christmas Island detention centre the day after riots broke out.The Australian government and refugee advocates are at odds over the condition of the Christmas Island detention centre the day after riots broke out.
The immigration department said centre operators have regained control of the administration block and health clinic at the facility’s entrance, the situation is is calm and food and medication has been distributed. The immigration department said centre operators have regained control of the administration block and health clinic at the facility’s entrance, the situation was calm and food and medication has been distributed.
But other reports say the disorder has continued overnight. ABC News reported that extra police have arrived on the island overnight. But other reports say the disorder continued overnight. ABC News reported that extra police have arrived on the island.
Related: Christmas Island detainees fear retribution following unrest over death of escapeeRelated: Christmas Island detainees fear retribution following unrest over death of escapee
A coroner is to investigate the death of the Iranian Kurdish man on Sunday, named by refugee groups as Fazel Chegeni.A coroner is to investigate the death of the Iranian Kurdish man on Sunday, named by refugee groups as Fazel Chegeni.
In a statement, the immigration department says service provider staff have re-entered to take control of some facilities including administration areas and the health clinic, and the perimeter of the centre is being patrolled. Peter Dutton, the immigration minister, told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday: “There’s an operation under way. The government’s not going to cower in the face of the activities of some of these criminals.”
But refugee advocate Ian Rintoul told AAP guards were yet to re-enter compounds. “There’s been no attempt by Serco to go back into the detention centre yet,” he said. Dutton said police had settled some compounds on Tuesday. “The officers were met with little resistance,” he said.In a statement, the immigration department said staff had re-entered to take control of some facilities including administration areas and the health clinic, and the perimeter of the centre is being patrolled.
But refugee advocate Ian Rintoul told the Australian Associated Press guards were yet to re-enter compounds. “There’s been no attempt by Serco to go back into the detention centre yet,” he said.
He said an estimated 50 people slept on a sports oval overnight and there were fears among detainees that riot police would storm the centre.He said an estimated 50 people slept on a sports oval overnight and there were fears among detainees that riot police would storm the centre.
Rintoul said Australian federal police were making announcements over loud speakers demanding detainees return to their rooms and discard weapons. “They have drones circulating above the centre,” he said.Rintoul said Australian federal police were making announcements over loud speakers demanding detainees return to their rooms and discard weapons. “They have drones circulating above the centre,” he said.
The opposition immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, called on the federal government to detail what measures were in place to ensure the safety of detainees and staff. “It’s difficult to make an assessment about how this is being handled or whether rioting is being done, when there is so little information,” he said on ABC radio.The opposition immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, called on the federal government to detail what measures were in place to ensure the safety of detainees and staff. “It’s difficult to make an assessment about how this is being handled or whether rioting is being done, when there is so little information,” he said on ABC radio.
A UK-born detainee, Mick Tristram, said a group of about six Iranians had “started the trouble” by confronting three emergency response team guards, who retreated as a group of another 20 detainees looked on.A UK-born detainee, Mick Tristram, said a group of about six Iranians had “started the trouble” by confronting three emergency response team guards, who retreated as a group of another 20 detainees looked on.
The ABC reported that detainees had barricaded themselves into a compound for protection.The ABC reported that detainees had barricaded themselves into a compound for protection.
It cited claims the unrest was provoked by an exchange between the group of Iranians and ERT officers who allegedly challenged them to go “one on one” in a physical confrontation and then made jokes about Chegeni.It cited claims the unrest was provoked by an exchange between the group of Iranians and ERT officers who allegedly challenged them to go “one on one” in a physical confrontation and then made jokes about Chegeni.