ABC
April 23, 2011, 3:32 pm
The Federal Opposition says the police should immediately force the remaining protesters at the Villawood detention centre down from the roof.
Three men are still protesting on the centre's roof, after riots earlier in the week which saw nine buildings destroyed by fire.
Twenty two of the protesters have been taken to Sydney's Silverwater jail for questioning but no charges have yet been laid.
The Federal Opposition's Immigration spokesman Scott Morrison says there should be police intervention and the Government must take a stronger stance.
"There should be no special rules for people breaking the law in detention centres, as opposed to those outside detention centres," he said.
"There should be one rule for all and those involved in criminal acts should be prosecuted and charged. If you want to get in the line for a visa, then you can't get in the line for violence and if you do that, then you can't get a visa."
Mr Morrison has questioned why three former detainees convicted over the 2009 Christmas Island riots, were later granted visas to stay in Australia.
The Immigration department has confirmed the men were given the visas late last year after their cases were assessed.
The Opposition's immigration spokesman Scott Morrison says it makes a mockery of the government's claims it will use its powers under the migration act to weed out people of bad character.
"And I think what it does at the end of the day is proves hollow, the resolve and threats of the minister to take action when clearly he has been put to the test and has failed," he said.
Police say they have not yet made any arrests or laid charges.
The Australian Federal Police says its emphasis is on the security and safety of the protesters and that no further comment is appropriate.
The Immigration Department says Villawood Detention Centre is calm despite the ongoing rooftop protest and denies the centre is in lockdown.
A spokeswoman says the department is working hard to restore key services to detainees.
Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition, says he is concerned that the men being held in prison over the riot are not being made aware of their rights.
"In many of the countries they come from [people are] seized by the police and placed in jail in places where they have no legal rights," he said.
"They do not necessarily understand that they don't have to give a statement. They don't have to talk to the police.
"We are very concerned that no statements are made and there are no interviews with the police until they understand their rights."
The men are believed to be protesting against their failed visa applications.
The protest reached its peak when a small protest on Wednesday afternoon developed into a full-scale riot in which close to 100 asylum seekers burned down nine buildings at the centre.
A computer room, kitchen and medical centre were destroyed by fire and a large gas cylinder also exploded.
A former Villawood guard told ABC Television's Lateline program on Thursday that problems at the Sydney centre have been building for some time and he is not surprised about the riots.
In a statement, Serco, the private operator of detention centres in Australia, acknowledged an increased number of arrivals and longer periods of detention have placed significant pressures on their operations.
The company said it has provided additional training to staff beyond contractual requirements and has invested $1.5 million in staff training.
Villawood is the second Australian immigration detention centre to be set on fire this year.
A Federal Government-ordered review into riots at the Christmas Island centre in March, which saw tear gas and bean bag rounds being fired at asylum seekers, will now also investigate the Villawood protests.
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VILLAWOOD DETAINEES ASK TO COME OFF ROOF
April 23, 2011, 5:31 pm
Three protesters who have remained on the roof at Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre following a fiery riot have asked to come down, a refugee advocate says.
A riot by up to 100 detainees on Wednesday night left nine buildings gutted by fire.
Twenty-two protesters, transferred to Silverwater Correctional Centre, have been questioned by police.
Social Justice Network member Jamal Daoud on Saturday said the detainees were contemplating their fate after an exhausting few days.
"There's three still on the roof and they have asked to come down," Mr Daoud told AAP.
Mr Daoud said the detainees were feeling depressed and the atmosphere remained tense inside the centre.
"They want to talk to a UN representative for refugees and they've said: 'If it is impossible for us to be released in the community, send us to a third country'."
A Department of Immigration spokeswoman said 22 detainees were still at Silverwater Correctional Centre and Australian Federal Police (AFP) were talking to those still on the roof.
"One has come down earlier today and there's three still on the roof," the spokeswoman said on Saturday afternoon.
The protest was triggered when two men climbed onto the roof of the main centre early on Wednesday after having their asylum applications rejected.
They were joined by another 11 and, by midnight (AEST), up to 100 people were involved, vandalising and setting fire to buildings. There was an explosion shortly after 2am on Thursday when an oxygen cylinder ignited.
Meanwhile, acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan on Saturday condemned a rally outside the centre, planned for Monday by the Refugee Rights Action Network.
Mr Swan said the rioters' actions could not be defended and the rally would be inappropriate.
"I don't think that's necessarily appropriate at all. There has been unacceptable behaviour by people inside the facility," he told reporters in Cairns.
"We cannot, in any way, condone the sorts of acts and behaviour we have seen at that facility in recent days."
Mr Swan refused to be drawn on the police's decision to deny food to the four protesters still on the centre's roof.
"I think the authorities should take every responsible course of action to remove people from those positions. That is entirely a matter for the law enforcement officials."
Mr Swan on Friday promised those involved would "feel the full force of the law".
But he has ruled out making any changes to Australia's immigration detention policies until after an inquiry is completed into the Villawood riots and a similar incident last month at the Christmas Island detention centre.
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison on Saturday said the government could not effectively deal with the controversies.
"The fact is this government has no clear line of thought or policy or process of dealing with these riots," Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney.
"We have a rolling crisis, it's not new, been happening for over a year and yet they fail to learn from one riot to the next."
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