'Control regained' at controversial Christmas Island detention centre



CANBERRA: -- Australian authorities say they have regained control of the controversial Christmas Island detention centre.

Rioting broke out after an escaped Iranian Kurdish asylum seeker was found dead at the bottom of cliffs.

At least five people were injured and widespread damage caused.

On the island, detainees seeking political asylum, many of whom have fled from war-torn regions, are segregated from foreigners facing deportation for a variety of crimes.

Officials say those leading the unrest were detainees whose visas had been cancelled.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told the press:

“It is a hardened criminal population that occupies the immigration detention centre on Christmas Island and people who think that they can act outside of the law have another thing coming. Obviously investigations will now get underway in relation to the incident and we will look at those findings and deal with people appropriately”.

Asylum seekers in the camp have often been intercepted en route for mainland Australia. The United Nations and human rights groups have criticised the government for its tough stance on immigration and for the harsh conditions at its offshore detention centres.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015-11-11

These individuals should never be allowed to set foot in Australia , We should have the right to repatriate rioters , and who cares what the UN think they are not paying the bills, or the social costs to society.

These individuals should never be allowed to set foot in Australia , We should have the right to repatriate rioters , and who cares what the UN think they are not paying the bills, or the social costs to society.

What are you saying, NZ nationals should be denied entry to Oz? I guess you're unaware NZ criminals, having completed their prison sentences & being processed for deportation were the main instigators & participants in the riot.

Edited November 11, 201510 yr by simple1

The media coverage of this event has been deliberately misleading implying Australian authorities are mistreating peaceful migrants.

Wouldn't it be easier (and a lot cheaper) to give all the Christmas people airline tickets to Germany?

They'd be happy there.

Edited November 11, 201510 yr by Hayduke

Wouldn't it be easier (and a lot cheaper) to give all the Christmas people airline tickets to Germany?

They'd be happy there.

Considering 75% of the detainees are convicted foreign national criminals (not declined asylum seekers) awaiting deportation don't think German immigration would be too happy.

These individuals should never be allowed to set foot in Australia , We should have the right to repatriate rioters , and who cares what the UN think they are not paying the bills, or the social costs to society.

What are you saying, NZ nationals should be denied entry to Oz? I guess you're unaware NZ criminals, having completed their prison sentences & being processed for deportation were the main instigators & participants in the riot.

After reading this article, seems that not all of the people there are criminals.

Article says he was arrested but I assume just detained by Immigration after his visa was revoked.

http://www.watoday.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/kiwi-mp-slams-decision-to-revoke-visa-of-decorated-soldier-20151110-gkvpdw.html

These individuals should never be allowed to set foot in Australia , We should have the right to repatriate rioters , and who cares what the UN think they are not paying the bills, or the social costs to society.

What are you saying, NZ nationals should be denied entry to Oz? I guess you're unaware NZ criminals, having completed their prison sentences & being processed for deportation were the main instigators & participants in the riot.

After reading this article, seems that not all of the people there are criminals.

Article says he was arrested but I assume just detained by Immigration after his visa was revoked.

http://www.watoday.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/kiwi-mp-slams-decision-to-revoke-visa-of-decorated-soldier-20151110-gkvpdw.html

True, a mixture of rejected asylum seekers & others, though government has so far not identified asylum seekers (about 25% of 199 detainees) being involved in the disturbance. Apparently the facility was converted to house 'high risk' detainees being processed for deportation.