Christmas Island burned in protests

18 Mar 2011, 7:03 am   -   Source: AAP, Seven Network
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Rioting asylum seekers have set fire to a number of buildings on Christmas Island overnight, following ongoing protests involving hundreds of detainees.

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Fires have broken out at the Christmas Island detention centre overnight, following ongoing protests involving hundreds of asylum seekers.

Police also used tear gas to quell protesters angry at processing delays, refugee advocates claim. Footage broadcast by Channel Seven showed buildings burning at the centre.

Seven network reports that at least nine fires were lit by several groups who threw molotov cocktails at buildings.

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd says violent protests are "completely unacceptable".

"How can you expect our officials to process applications for asylum when that sort of thing is happening," he told the Seven Network, referring to the reported fires at the Christmas Island detention centre.

The Australian Federal Police said police at Christmas Island responded to an incident at 2015 (local time) Thursday 17th March, but wouldn't confirm the use of tear gas.

"The immediate priority is responding to the current situation," an AFP spokesperson told AAP.

No further details were provided. The ABC has reported that a number of sleeping quarters were destroyed when two buildings were set on fire, after the police crackdown.

The protest was sparked by a letter asylum seekers received from Canberra stating that security checks would be undertaken in April.

Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul believes the letter contained other information that has angered the asylum seekers, and called for restraint at the centre.

"It is obvious the use of force by police is leading to escalating tension and confrontation," he said in a statement, claiming a "strong version of tear gas" has "badly affected protesters".

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Your Comments

to Rolly (from Perth)

Hector Rojas - from Yenora, 1 year

What does it take to open the eyes of these blinkered and dare I say biggoted bleeding hearts who retreat to their default position of trying to allay blame for the criminal actions of these violent vandals.

Depressing

Alexander - from Sydney, 1 year

What a shame that the selfish and voilent few have dashed the hopes of hundreds of other legitimate and better mannered migrants. After this tantrum middle Australia of all cultrual origins will be saying the same thing: We dont want people that resort to violence and destruction living among us. We see enough of that in world news! Do we start to wonder why there is so much disgusting violence in the middle east? Do we start making cultural or dare I say racial conections?

Bloody disgrace Gillard

Shagger - from CI, 1 year

Remove the instigators immediately out of Aus using one of the Resolutions in the UNHCR 1951 convention as they are criminals and combatants. Promoter of riots, arson and destruction don't get their way in. We must not tolerate this behaviour or give in to it. Rioters and trouble makers should be deported. We simply don't need them and we should not be pressured by outsiders or whinging human rights advocates, do-gooders, bleeding hearts. GILLARD DO YOUR JOB OR GET OUT.

Send them back

Nicole - from Sydney , 1 year

If jumping the queue wasn't enough to send them back then surely arson acts are!! I have no sympathy for people who break the law to come here then break it again once being processed!

Simply Simple minded

Rolly - from Perth, 1 year

@Hector Rojas: Such simplistic, politically partisan, bleating will achieve nothing except to inflame a debate which is substantially lacking in facts and totally lacking in rationality and humanity. It is evident from these remarks that your direct knowledge of the circumstances is zero, zilch.

rioters/arsonists

oncewas - from bribie island, 1 year

How far do we go in accepting this unacceptable behaviour by uninvited visitors to our shores? They don't like the accommodation we provide while they get processed then work out where they come from and send them home. It must be better there. If they get approved to stay will they burn down their new accommodation and go on a rampage through our cities to get their own way? Bad cess to all of them.

Rudd

Zan - from Perth, 1 year

"How can you expect our officials to process applications for asylum when that sort of thing is happening," What a callous thing to say, when the protests themselves are over the fact processing is undertaken at an intolerably slow pace. Security checks begin in April? These asylum seekers' applications are being given the lowest priority and something needs to be done to speed up the process. Nobody should be held in detention for so long while everyone else takes a holiday from their jobs.

Just an idea

Elija - from Falls Creek, 1 year

Protests indeed, I'll wager that thousands of genuine Japanese VICTIMS of hardship would give anything to be accomodated in one of our UN approved facilities at this time, Perhaps an exchange program could be considered.

FAIL, FAIL, FAIL ....

Hector Rojas - from Yenora, 1 year

One would have to assume, given current developments in "bursting at the seams" facilities around the country that this governments attempts to stick bandaids over their failed border protection policies have failed once again. Isn't it time to make an example of these failed applicant vandals and their sophisticated network of support.?

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