By Vincent Morello, AAP
April 21, 2011, 7:59 am
Negotiators are still talking down a handful of protesters from the rooftops of Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre after a night of wild riots.
At least three buildings were set alight in the protest which began about 10pm (AEST) on Wednesday and involved up to 100 immigration detainees at the height of the drama.
By daybreak, immigration spokesman Sandi Logan said firefighters had contained the fires and although three or four people remained on the roof, the situation was otherwise in hand.
"We're certainly in the process of regaining control and as daylight comes, we'll be in a much better situation to assess damage," he told ABC Radio.
A dining room, a computer room and medical centre have all been destroyed.
Mr Logan condemned the "appalling" behaviour of protesters who pelted firefighters with tiles, furniture and timber as they arrived to put out the fires.
"At one stage many of the protesters were flinging, were hurling roof tiles and pieces of furniture, and other clumps of wood at the firefighters," he told ABC Radio.
It wasn't until the riot squad turned up that firefighters were able to go in and tackle the blaze.
Mr Logan said the protest started with just two detainees who took to the roof, who were then joined by 11 others.
By midnight, around 50 to 100 people were involved, vandalising and setting fire to buildings.
Mr Logan said non-compliant behaviour from detainees was nothing new.
"It is an ongoing challenge ... to ensure we maintain the mental and physical health of our detainees," he said.
"From time to time, frankly quite unacceptable, quite appalling non-compliant behaviours have occurred and this is an example of it overnight."
Around 400 people are currently housed at the detention centre.
Mr Logan said Australia had the highest level of care in immigration detention in the world, although he conceded capacity had put the system under strain.
"A claim for protection, to be recognised as a refugee, is not a simple matter," he later told ABC Television.
"Sometimes those processes can be extensive.
"But any suggestion that they're not being informed of the progress of their claim is nonsense."
He could not verify suggestions the protest was sparked by those whose claims had been rejected.
"I don't know the motivation.
"But it's clearly not going to help, in terms of endearing their settlement in Australia."
Should the police lay charges, it could affect the character component of their claim, Mr Logan said.
"This sort of behaviour is not going to change the outcome."
The detainees still on the roof are reportedly calling for a meeting with the immigration department but Mr Logan said case managers will continue to be their first point of contact.
"Until they come down, we won't be negotiating but we are working and managing to get them down from the roof.
"We hope that occurs shortly."
Guards had to "take cover and retreat" during the riots, Mr Logan confirmed, noting that they had not been armed.
Outside the centre on Thursday morning, Mr Logan told reporters: "With daybreak now we're doing an assessment of the damage, we'll have structural engineers and assessors coming.
"We know at least nine structures, including the medical centre, the kitchen, the dining room, the laundry, a computer room and other support amenities were destroyed in the fire overnight."
There will be a police investigation before any charges can be laid.
"NSW Police responded as it's a criminal matter and they've done a wonderful job protecting the firefighters as they've done their job," Mr Logan said.
"There may well be charges laid from this investigation," Mr Logan said.
Brami Jegan, from the Refugee Action Coalition, said she got to the centre about 1am and spotted pockets of fires, but "it didn't seem to be too out of control".
An hour later, it was clear at least one building was going up completely.
She believes stress and frustration were behind the riots.
"What's happened is an absolute act of desperation.
"It's a cry out for help."
Some have been at Villawood for close to two years, Ms Jegan told ABC Radio.
"It's so obvious the profound psychological effects that mandatory and prolonged detention is having on these people, these human beings," she said.
"They're always being threatened with being sent back.
"They live in this constant fear, and that's really, really harmful to anyone's mental health.
"They've got to the point now where they're like, what are we even doing here, we're just in prison, in indefinite prison in your country."
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