AUSTRALIA: Calls grow to release teenage asylum seekers in detention

[18 June 2013] - 

CALLS are growing for the release of teenage asylum seekers being kept in detention at Pontville, with critics fearing an inevitable violent consequence of keeping hundreds of boys behind wire.

As tension escalates at the detention centre, many in the community say blame cannot be directed at the fighting boys but at their stressful, cooped-up conditions.

Six detainees were taken to hospital with minor injuries at the weekend after a fight between male teenagers - the second disturbance of its type in three weeks.

Refugee advocates Madeleine Ogilvie and Greg Barns, pictured left, and the Greens said tensions would continue to rise until the children were let out and placed within families in the community.

In the latest incident, guards called for police assistance at the Pontville facility for asylum seekers about 9.45pm on Saturday after a fight involving male teenagers.

Six detainees were taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, and returned to the centre yesterday.

Three weeks ago a violent outbreak left a guard in hospital.

The centre is holding 268 boys aged between 14 and 18.

Barrister and refugee advocate Ms Ogilvie said detainees were desperate because they had not been given any timeframe for the processing of their refugee status.

"We are keeping young people in detention for long periods of time and I'm sure it exacts a heavy mental and physical toll," she said.

The Greens called on Labor to end the detention of children.

Australian Greens leader Christine Milne said the incident was ample evidence children needed to be put into families in the community.

"If you lock up boys ... and if you put them behind the wire, it's hardly surprising you are going to have an incident or two like this," Senator Milne said.

Brighton Mayor Tony Foster, whose municipality includes Pontville, said there was always going to be friction when large groups were cooped up.

"They are suffering from an enormous amount of stress and duress," Cr Foster said.

He said the local community and Serco, the facility's operator, were doing great things, such as organising excursions to relieve that stress and boredom.

Australian Lawyers Alliance spokesman Mr Barns said politicians should be blamed for the violence, not the detainees.

A Mercury columnist and campaign director for Julian Assange's WikiLeaks Party, he said "by locking male teenagers in an inhumane prison environment, authorities are asking for trouble".

"That's what happens when you treat people like that," he said.

A Department of Immigration and Citizenship spokesman said life at the facility had returned to normal yesterday.

A police spokeswoman said guards had brought the situation under control on Saturday night by the time police arrived.

No charges have been laid.

In the Mercury's Great Tassie Survey last month, readers were asked if they wanted asylum seekers to be integrated into society while they awaited processing.

Of those who responded, 42.9 per cent said no, 41.2 per cent yes and 15.9 per cent said only women and children.

A slight majority of 54.3 per cent were in favour of offshore processing.

 

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