FED:Villawood continues, as WA protest begins

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2011
FED:Villawood continues, as WA protest begins

SYDNEY, April 24 AAP - Three protesters remain on the roof of Sydney's Villawood Detention
Centre, as detainees stage a sit-in and go on a hunger strike at Western Australia's Curtin
facility.

Two of the trio at Villawood have been on the roof since Wednesday morning, the same
day a riot involving up to 100 detainees broke out leaving nine buildings gutted by fire.

Twenty-two of those protesters were transferred to Silverwater Correctional Centre,
where they were questioned by Australian Federal Police.

On Sunday morning, three detainees were still on the detention centre's roof, protesting
against the rejection of their asylum applications.

"They are being negotiated with. Currently, the Australian Federal Police are in charge
of the negotiations," a Department of Immigration and Citizenship spokeswoman told AAP
on Sunday morning.

"They have asked to speak to department staff. We are prepared to meet them, if they
come down from the roof."

Meanwhile, Social Justice Network spokesman Jamal Daoud has complained of mistreatment by police.

Well known for speaking out on behalf of refugees and detainees, Mr Daoud said he was
handcuffed and forced to kneel after an argument with police on Saturday afternoon at
the centre.

He said he was taken to Bankstown police station and later released with a $350 fine.

"The police officers were acting with deep hate, disregard to basic civil rights," he alleged.

In Western Australia, refugee advocate Ian Rintoul said a hunger strike and sit-in
involving around 300 detainees at Curtin Airbase detention centre, in the state's remote
West Kimberley region, was expected to escalate.

Their protest over visitors being prevented from going to the centre over the Easter
weekend began on Saturday morning, Mr Rintoul said.

"The asylum seekers are asking that they be allowed to see refugee supporters, who
have travelled from Perth and cities to see them over the Easter weekend," Mr Rintoul
said in a statement on Sunday.

"Serco (the centre's management company) have insisted that only one-on-one visits
will be allowed, an arrangement that will only allow about 50 asylum seekers to see a
visitor."

AAP bc/cdh/ajw

KEYWORD: DETAINEES

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