Christmas Island - looks and feels like a prison
Graham Thom 14 August 2008, 05:16PM
(Top two images): the new Christmas Island
detention centre
(Bottom two images): Perth detention centre
© AIA
Our refugee coordinator Graham Thom, along with our national director Claire Mallinson and board vice president Jim Sharp, has just visited the new Christmas Island detention centre. These are their observations.
There are a few things that strike you about Christmas Island and its new detention centre. Firstly, the island's remoteness from the Australian mainland, and the logistical difficulties in getting there, are brought home when you depart Perth's international airport, passport in hand.
You have to complete an immigration departure card, despite the fact you are flying to an Australian territory ('excised' of course), before embarking on a five hour flight to the island.
This week, on 13 August, Amnesty International Australia joined a number of other NGOs, UNHCR, HREOC and the Ombudsman's office on a visit to the newly completed Christmas Island detention centre. The visit was organised by the Department of Immigration.
Harsh and soulless
Once on the island you are struck by not only the remoteness of the new centre to anything else on the island but also the high level of security surrounding the centre. (Where would anyone escape to?) Two high fences, the second one an electric fence, circle the perimeter. Despite landscaping in the "green heart" of the centre there is an all pervasive feeling of concrete and steel, particularly in the accommodation compounds.
Despite recent efforts to improve the feel of the centre you cannot escape the sense you are in a medium security prison. The level of fencing and surveillance make even the recreational areas, including sewing room and beauty saloon, feel like you are in an expensive cage. In the accommodation rooms the small windows are covered by steel mesh that obscure the view to the nearby fence and then the larger electric fence beyond that.
Most confronting of all is the arrivals area, the "at risk" area and the high security "red one" compound. It is difficult to imagine how traumatised asylum seekers would react when first brought into the centre. This arrivals area at best can be described as harsh and soulless, but at worst, for someone who has previously suffered torture or trauma in their homeland, it would be anywhere from intimidating to frightening. Even the light fittings are surrounded by cages.
The "at risk" rooms are part of the modern medical facility. These are rooms where people who it is believed could potentially self harm can be monitored. The rooms themselves again demonstrate the priority of security over individual well being. This is reinforced when you go out to the adjacent open small caged area, designed to let those in the at risk area go "outside". How it is envisaged that people suffering mental health concerns will improve in these conditions, rather than go into serious decline, is difficult to comprehend.
The "red compound" where those who pose a security concern, or behave violently, is also very confronting. Again, the thought of anyone's "behavior" improving in such a maximum security environment is difficult to imagine.
Long way from the vision
Amnesty International Australia has consistently raised concerns about detaining people in remote locations, particularly in dehumanising environments. The damage this has done to the detainee's mental and physical health has been documented time and time again. The high security nature of the new centre is clearly reflective of previous detention philosophies and we believe is a long way from the current vision of a more humane approach to detention outlined recently by the Minister.
While on Christmas Island we were also shown some of the other alternative detention arrangements available for use on the island, including duplexes situated in the community and the previous phosphate hill facility which has recently had a number of the fences removed. This would enable any future detainees to come and go from the facility during the day.
While the remaining fenced in areas still feel confronting the rest of the basic cabins in the centre makes it feel like an old school camp ground. It is envisaged that if people are brought to the island these facilities would be used in preference to the new $400 million centre, which would only be used as a last resort.
The clearly more humane approach that is being taken with other detention alternatives on the island again brings in to stark contrast the absurdity of building such a harsh, high tech, high security facility like the one that has just been completed. The resources within the new centre, computers, sports equipment, sewing machines and the cost of maintaining them while the centre remains empty is a situation that can best be described as extraordinary.
Flying back to the Australian mainland, passing the duty free before again clearing customs, it is difficult to image a more remote part of Australia to build a high security detention facility. Maybe that was the point seven years ago, it is now time for the current government to abandon that approach and treat all those who are fleeing to this country in search of safety with the same level of dignity and respect as everybody else.
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These features are taken from our Human Rights Defender magazine - subscribe free now
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Comments
Comments are submitted by members of the public and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Amnesty International Australia. If you find a comment objectionable please contact the web editor.
Greg Stevens
20 August 2008, 06:10PM
Alicia, you probably should have said “Reactionary Rednecks” ;-}
Why do we need to talk in extremes - to relax our border controls does not have to mean opening up the flood gates to the criminals masses. If this country, with all its wealth, will not take its proper share and care of duty towards people in crisis then this not a great country. A great country is one that leads the way forward. And the way forward is supporting human rights for ALL.
Greg Stevens
20 August 2008, 06:08PM
Alicia, you probably should have said “Reactionary Rednecks” ;-}
Nev
20 August 2008, 06:03PM
Sorry Alicia, I didnt realise my opinion was wrong. I am obviously an uncultured red neck that dares to question the accuracy of an Amnesty article. “As they saw it” you say, what if they write the article “as they want YOU to see it”. Should I be detained for having this view, for pointing out information regarding the facility that may not support Amnesty’s stance? I do not hold “negative aspersions on people who have suffered trauma”, I just don’t believe its smart to have an open border policy. You must be very open minded to be able to quickly dismiss me as a small minded redneck? Perhaps you should learn the phrase “I MAY NOT BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT”, surely Amnesty and highly cultured people like yourself would believe in that. Anyway I best be off to spread my bigoted redneck propaganda elsewhere, (as thats what we Rednecks do when we aren’t donating to NGO’s like Amnesty.)
Bernard
20 August 2008, 05:55PM
Thank you Amnesty for revealing this extraordinary waste of money. And more - the totally mad approach of the Howard government. Mad because refugees do not require to be treated as criminals.
Greg Stevens
20 August 2008, 05:50PM
Your right we don’t want to be like the USA, nor do we want to be like Russia or Germany, Poland or the UK. Lets be us. Let’s not take failed models and employ them. Lets learn from what doesn’t work and lead the way.
A man wakes one morning to find his brother has been hacked to death, his uncles severed head on his front door step and his 2 daughter have been raped. He takes whatever is left of his family and flees. What then a mandatory detention centre? Deemed necessary by those who sip on chardonnay have never lived in fear.
Leigh McQueeney
20 August 2008, 05:25PM
While the concept of mandatory detention is difficult for me I have come to the decision that it is necessary. Surely we dont want to be like the USA where illegal immigrants are exploited as cheap labour (or worse) while the Government often turns a blind eye. However I am at a loss to understand why mandatory detention cant occur in pleasant geographical environments close to necessary services. Places where human rights can be protected, at least to some degree, where children can go to regular schools and refugee groiups can be supported and embraced by the local communities.
alicia
20 August 2008, 05:24PM
At least someone is investigating and taking the time and effort to go there and have a look. pity we have so many rednecks in this country that are so quick to attack such an article whos only agenda was to research and disclose events as they saw it. i would rather detain bigots and small minded people that unfortunately already reside here in this country and whose only contribution is to idly cast negative aspersions on people who have experienced trauma and hardship beyond anything we could ever comprehend. we are a large and able country full of small pathetic people. some culture from abroad wouldnt be so bad! it is disgusting to treat human beings like animals and our biggest shame.
leigh kelly
20 August 2008, 05:21PM
Nev.. you clearly miss the point about human rights. It is not a process of selection. Putting refugees in a prison and saying that is better than the horror they escape from is not the way to treat people. The right to freedom IS a human right and we have an obligation to provide it. We can not become one world by separating the good from the bad. We have in the past been able to pick and choose. This is elitism and not very far away from a white Australia policy of not too long ago.
To truly embrace “one humanity” is to embrace it with all its aspects. If that means that during this transitional period in history we must share in the mix of desirable and undesirable than this is the price. The right way often is hard. Eventually the higher standards we enjoy will endure, educating others along the way.
Nev
20 August 2008, 04:55PM
Can I also ask why the article failed to mention that detainees have the supply of healthy meals, cable tv, telephones, internet, running track, playstations, a hospital and a safe place to sleep every night? They have legal representation, free medical facilities, education programs and a clean environment that protects them from harmful people (who are put into the Red Compound because they do that, yes they physically and sexually assault other detainees so they need to be isolated). The ‘dehumanising’ environment in the facility is far more accommodating than where these people are escaping from.
marion moise
20 August 2008, 04:55PM
unbelievable waste of humanity and resources
Nev
20 August 2008, 04:40PM
Leigh, absolutely I agree with you regarding ‘one humanity’ however its just not that simple. The ‘processing’ of refugees is required, because without it we risk damaging what is great about our country. (In reality our population is just a mixed bag of refugees anyway) Open borders only promotes exploitation, see what is happening in the EU. If we had an open border policy, the population of Australia would explode to unmanageable levels. Refugees have every right to live in Australia but unless we control the process it would be disastrous.
leigh kelly
20 August 2008, 03:19PM
Sorry Nev… I just can’t agree with your comments about “that’s just how it is”. It’s lovely to live in such a priviageged and isolated country that believes it can remain pure and clean in a world with so much atrocity.
By far the majority of people seeking refuge are traumatised individuals who need help. To focus on the criminal element and use it as means to justify imprisonment is indeed sad. Like it or not we must understand that we are one humanity and must not use borders as a means of keeping the reality out.
Nev
20 August 2008, 03:11PM
Also, can you please tell me where the photo above is taken (the one with the razor wire on the roof). There is no razor wire in the Christmas Island facility, so you must have taken it from somewhere else. Misleading people is a politicians job, i thought amnesty would be better than that.
Geoff Stewart
20 August 2008, 02:58PM
Maybe we could use it as a health spa for retired politicians. :=)
Nev
20 August 2008, 01:54PM
I was involved in building the place, let me just clarify a few points. It is not an electric fence (in the sense that it gives you a shock), it monitors movement and talks to the main building when it is touched. The Red compound is intended for violent detainees, who can harm others and themselves if they go nuts. Give up on this romantic notion that all detainees are good people, there are plenty of violent criminals trying to get into Australia as refugees as well. (Ask Christmas Island locals about some of the Papuans who were left to roam the island a few years ago, that didnt turn out well) This facility may be a white elephant, but dont kid yourself to the realities and complexities of immigration policy, regardless the government in power. If we let everyone into Australia without suitable processing, we are asking for a world of trouble. Sorry but thats not racism, its not inhumane, its just how it is.
zuza krawczykowa
20 August 2008, 01:46PM
What a waste of our money, john Howard was not fiscally responsible as he claimed. It is still costing us a fortune maintaining it. I think it wasteful to bulldoze it but perhaps it could be converted to a tourist resort/sold to a tourism developer and put an end to the shameful era of inhumanity for polotical power.
Peter Trapp
20 August 2008, 01:20PM
Thanks for the heads up; depressing reading though. The positive side is the alternative facilities - once you go past the inhumanity of parking asylum seekers on an island in the middle of the ocean. Perhaps the govt should just moth-ball the high tech facility, hopefully there won’t be enough refugees to need more than the older facilities - and maybe, just maybe, the whole policy might be dropped. To be fair to the Rudd govt this is a carry-over from JH’s world view, although they don;t need to utilise it if it offends their humanity - as it does most other people’s.
Mary & Robert DALE
20 August 2008, 12:24PM
Agree with Leigh Kelly’s remarks! Thought this Govt would be more compassionate than to leave this place as it is. Seems that ideals always get compromised once power is attained.
marie gordon
20 August 2008, 12:21PM
My comment is rather long, so will mail it as an att<achment.
leigh kelly
20 August 2008, 12:19PM
It’s funny how last resorts can easilty turn into first choices.
To leave such a facility standing is to invite future Governments to use it as it was intended.
We simply do not need such landmark for tourism purposes.
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