Detained Indonesian fishermen agitate for freedom

14/05/2008 19:00:05

Australia's Department of Immigration has denied reports a guard was injured and chairs and palm fronds were burned during a protest at a detention centre in the Northern Territory capital, Darwin.

A statement from the Department admits there has been some "agitation" among the 239 Indonesian fishermen being held at the Berrimah detention centre.

The statement says the Indonesian nationals are unhappy about the length of time they have spent in detention, and the order in which they are being processed.

Earlier Miscellaneous Workers Union spokesman Brian Wilkins said staff members working at the centre witnessed detainees setting objects on fire on a number of occasions.

"We've has some reports from our members who work inside the centre," he said.

"The detainees on one compound are burning chairs, throwing rocks, burning palm fronds and incidents like that."

A report on the alleged incidents was issued by the union three days after Indonesia's Consul in Darwin called for a more comprehensive campaign to educate fisherman about illegal fishing zones in waters north of Australia.

Harbangan Napitupulu said more than half of the 260 Indonesian nationals being held in detention in Darwin believed they were in Indonesian waters when they were arrested.

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