Christmas Island peaceful protest forcibly suppressed

Australian Federal Police dressed in riot gear have forcibly suppressed the peaceful protest on Christmas Island.

Around 11.00am yesterday (Monday 2 June), the riot squad attacked the group of 75 asylum seekers who had been on hunger strike and peacefully protesting in green zone since Tuesday last week. The seventy-five had remained outside the compounds braving pouring rain to continue their protest which started to mark the 100th since the Iranian asylum seeker Reza Barati was killed on Manus Island.

Asylum seekers on the island describe brutal scenes when the riot squad attacked the protest of hunger strikers in the green zone of the detention centre. The protesters were forcibly taken to the high security Red Compound and then to White compound where they were locked in their rooms.

There are unconfirmed reports of asylum seekers being injured and an ambulance was sent to the detention centre in the afternoon. It is not known if the hunger strike is continuing.

It is also not known if the protest of hundreds of asylum seekers inside the Red, Blue, Green and Gold compounds was continuing, although some reports say that police had also attacked some of those in the compounds in an attempt to end their protest.

The protest had escalated last week, with hundreds inside joining the hunger strike after Serco and the immigration department locked down the whole of the Christmas Island detention centre isolating all isolation seekers inside their compounds, curtailing activities and even access to medication.

“Just as Scott Morrison gave tacit approval to attacks on asylum seekers on Manus Island, he has unleashed the riot squad on peaceful protesters on Christmas Island. Christmas Island is an extension of offshore processing and the brutality of Manus Island. Scott Morrison is responsible for both,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.

“The police attack on Christmas Island is one more reason he should resign or be sacked.

“The asylum seekers are fleeing regimes that brutally attack peaceful protests; and now they find the government that should be providing protection uses the same methods against them.”

For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713

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