FED:Rooftop protest ends at detention centre

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2010
FED:Rooftop protest ends at detention centre

By Lisa Martin

BRISBANE, Aug 31 AAP - Accused Indonesian people smugglers have ended a rooftop protest
at a Darwin immigration detention centre.

The Indonesian boat crew, who are facing people smuggling charges, set mattresses on
fire and brandished poles on a roof at the centre on Sunday.

On Monday, 117 detainees continued the protest, with police called in to negotiate
with the group, some of whom had climbed back onto the roof.

Immigration department spokesman Sandi Logan said the situation had eased overnight
and the centre was calm on Tuesday.

"All the protesters have come down off the roof and are in a secure area within the
facility," he told AAP.

"Police remain on site. The protesters agreed to negotiate with police and detention
centre staff and were escorted to a secure area within the facility.

"They were offered food and water."

Australian Federal Police are yet to say if they will charge the protesters.

The detention centre at the Coonawarra Naval Base currently houses 487 detainees, including
151 alleged Indonesian people smugglers.

AAP lpm/tnf/apm

KEYWORD: RIOT

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