Repression on Christmas Island - update - 11/10/2015

As of a couple of hours ago I could not find a single sentence on this on the websites of the Sydney Morning Herald or ABC in what looks to be a news blackout on a brutal putdown of riots at the detention centre (more accurately described as a gulag) on Christmas Island

Coverage has come and gone in the last couple of hours. 

While searching I found this

Terrorists to lose citizenship as Abbott-era laws go head

"Let's get this clear. The NZ citizens being detained on Christmas Island are being held under anti-terror laws. The Prisoners are not forewarned of their departure from Australia. A specially trained riot squad sneak into the cells at 3am and burst in, beating the prisoner and handcuffing them and renditioning them straight onto a plane for a 13 hour flight to Christmas Island. The severity of the treatment is due to the laws being used to deport these NZ citizens - they're anti-terror laws! Laws and treatment green lighted for the worst and most dangerous terrorists are being exploited and used against civilians who have nothing more than a basic 1 year imprisonment crime. This just isn't acceptable and John Key's claim that the Opposition are 'backing rapists' when they raise legitimate questions is a disgrace. We are a better country than this."

----Martyn Bradbury

Christmas Island: Staff back in control

Staff are back in full control of the Christmas Island Detention Centre, the Australian Department of Immigration says.

A bird's eye view of the detention centre on Christmas Island.   Photo: AAP

Radio NZ,

10 November, 2015

Trouble broke out at the centre, which is operated by Serco, early on Monday (NZT) after the death of an asylum seeker who had escaped.

The facility houses both asylum seekers and New Zealanders with criminal records awaiting deportation.

Detainees on the island described fires and damage to facilities, with some saying they feared for their safety from those who had been rioting. Others said they felt unsafe as armed guards and police prepared to enter the facility.

More on the reaction to the unrest in New Zealand

• Mass walk-out over 'rapists' comment
• Govt urges Australia to return detainees promptly

Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said five detainees were injured during the operation to regain control of the detention centre.

Mr Dutton said tear gas was used by authorities to bring the unrest under control but did not confirm the use of rubber bullets.

No police officers were injured, he said.

"I understand there have been five detainees who have received minor lacerations and injuries otherwise as a result of their interaction with the police and their refusal to comply with the directions provided by the Australian Federal Police."

He said security arrangements at the centre would be reviewed, with additional funding provided to boost security.

'Core group of criminals'

The Australian Department of Immigration earlier issued a statement to declare the facility was under control, after Mr Dutton had blamed a "core group of criminals" for the riot.

He warned those who had damaged property would face the full force of the law.

Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton - pictured yesterday in Canberra.   Photo: AAP

The department's statement said the majority of detainees cooperated with service providers in restoring control.

"This morning's operation to regain control of the centre, and ensure the welfare of those not participating in criminal damage activities, was achieved largely through negotiation and cooperation with detainees," it said.

"The centre remains calm, with detainees secured in undamaged areas of the centre.

"Food, fluid and medical support continues to be provided."

The statement said some force was used on a core group of detainees who had built barricades and threatened to use improvised weapons.

Service provider staff would conduct a sweep of all compounds to search for contraband, including weapons, before detainees were moved back into normal accommodation areas.

"A full survey of damage to the centre is yet to be completed, but some common areas appear to be severely damaged," the statement said.

"Work to repair the centre will be undertaken as a priority."

Detainees told RNZ fires had broken out at the detention centre.   Photo: AFP

Back-up staff were flown to the island this morning to relieve workers who had been under pressure since chaos took hold, with federal police reinforcements also sent.

The events were prompted by the death of Iranian Kurdish man Fazal Chegeni, who was found dead on Sunday after escaping from the detention centre.

Mr Dutton said a coronial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Chegeni would be conducted.

"As I'm advised there are no suspicious circumstances in relation to the death," he said yesterday.

Barricaded detainees 'armed with petrol bombs, chainsaws'

This morning, New Zealand Labour corrections spokesperson Kelvin Davis said he had spoken to some detainees by telephone as armed guards prepared to enter the centre.

"Things have really kicked off, the riot squad has moved in waving their batons, apparently gas canisters have been fired," he said.

"There's reports of people being hit with rubber pellets, people are barricading themselves in their rooms, just trying to keep themselves safe."

A razorwire fence at the detention centre on Christmas Island.   Photo: AAP

One detainee, Tuk Whakatutu, told Morning Report the situation was tense.

"The riot squad's all geared up ready to come in. Everything's barricaded up, all the young fellas are all tooled up... They've got petrol bombs, they've got machetes, they've got chainsaws, metal bars; all sort."

The rioters had the run of the compound and had broken into garden sheds to look for weapons, he said.

"It's just going crazy. I want nothing to do with it, but all the young fellas are gee'd up, they want to go to war with them."

He said the group that was armed was made up of mainly New Zealanders and Pacific islanders.

Another detainee, Ricardo Young, said sirens and water sprinklers were going off and surveillance drones were in the air. Fires were everywhere, he said.

Listen to Ricardo Young on Morning Report ( 5 min )

But Christmas Island government administrator Barry Haase this afternoon played down the level of violence at the centre. The situation had been well handled by the police and Serco, he said.

"There is a lot less upheaval than perhaps has been generally reported."

- RNZ / ABC

All except New Zealand which has nothing to say

UN countries line up to criticise Australia's human rights record

Three hundred recommendations put forward by 110 nations, with treatment of asylum seekers and Indigenous Australians dominating concerns

John Key accuses Labour of 'backing rapists'

NZ Herald,

10 November, 2015

Prime Minister John Key has accused the Labour Party of "backing rapists" in an extraordinary attack in Parliament this afternoon.

That came after Labour MP Kelvin Davis shouted at Mr Key on the way into the House, accusing him of inaction in helping New Zealand detainees in Australia.

"Prime Minister, you're gutless," Mr Davis yelled as Mr Key walked past.

The Labour MP was pushed aside by Mr Key's security staff.

The heated debate on New Zealanders detained on Christmas Island continued inside the House.

Under questioning by Labour leader Andrew Little, Mr Key went on a furious offensive.

In an angry attack, he said: "Some of the [detainees] are rapists, some of them are child molesters, and some of them are murderers.

"These are the people that the Labour Party are saying are more important to support than New Zealanders who deserve protecting when they come back here.

"Mr Davis, if you want to put yourself on the side of sex offenders, go ahead my son, but we'll defend New Zealanders."

Labour MPs yelled that Mr Key had "lost the plot".

When Mr Little questioned why New Zealand did not demand more action from Australia, Mr Key launched another attack.

 

Marama Davidson‏@MaramaDavidson

The Prime Minister had to go to insulting distraction to hide his failure to stand for the human rights of New Zealanders. #WeakShow

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"You back the rapists," the Prime Minister said, before being cut off by the Speaker.

That prompted a heated debate across the House.

Labour MP Iain Lees-Galloway was thrown out of the debating chamber after criticising the Speaker.

Labour MPs then staged a walk-out in protest at Mr Key's comments. Just three Labour women remained in the House.

Labour MPs staged a walk-out in protest at John Key's comments. Just three Labour women remained in the House.

Mr Robertson, making a point of order, said he was "deeply offended" and asked that Mr Key withdraw his comment.

Speaker David Carter said the comment could stand.

 

Grant Robertson‏@grantrobertson1

Leaving PM's disgraceful dog whistle insults aside, the situation on Christmas Island is inhumane+dangerous. NZ shld be showing moral ldshp.

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"It is not a matter of whether the member was offended, it is a matter of whether the House was offended," he said.

That prompted further objections from Labour's whip Chris Hipkins and Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei.

"This is nothing more offensive than being accused of backing rapists," Mr Hipkins said.

Mr Carter refused to back down and make Mr Key withdraw the comment.

 

Chris Hipkins‏@chrishipkins

John Key is a disgrace to his office. Saying that MPs questioning Christmas Island detentions support rapists is just disgusting #nzqt

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Iain Lees-Galloway‏@IainLG

Disgusting and offensive behaviour by both the Prime Minister and the Speaker. Both are a disgrace to our Parliament.

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The Prime Minister said that in discussions with his Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, his counterpart had told him that rapists and murderers were among the people who were going to be deported.

At the end of Parliamentary question time, the Labour Party sought leave for vote of no confidence in the Speaker.

National MPs refused to grant leave.

Outside Parliament, Mr Little told reporters Mr Key had "lost his moral compass".

Asked about Mr Key's outburst, the Labour leader said the Prime Minister "knows he is on the back foot" on the Christmas Island crisis and his only response was to "lash out in a nasty, vicious way".

He said the detainees at the offshore facility had been convicted of "petty" offences like shop-lifting and driving offences.

Mr Little defended Mr Davis' heckling of the Prime Minister outside the debating chamber.

He said the MP, who visited Christmas Island two weeks ago, had been taking "distressing" phone calls from the detention centre and he "wants the Prime Minister to know about it".

Mr Davis said he believed his heckling had prompted Mr Key's angry response in the House.

"I would say that's what's rattled him," he told the Herald.

Mrs Turei said Mr Key's comments on rapists were a "huge misjudgement" that appeared to show he was "losing it".

She said his "weird outburst" was deeply offensive, especially for women MPs who had worked on tackling sexual and family violence.

United Future leader Peter Dunne said Mr Key's comments were "unfortunate" and had inflamed an already tense situation.

"I don't think this was robust [debate] today. I think this was one of the more despicable question times."

Mr Dunne said the Speaker should have intervened. But he said he would not have supported a no confidence motion because it was a "stunt" by Labour.

He also said he was uneasy about New Zealand's response to the detainee situation on Christmas Island, saying the Government appeared to have been caught "flat-footed".