"We were desperate," he said. "We just want attention. We did not hurt anyone. We did not hurt firemen. We did not attack security. Asylum seekers riot at Villawood Detention Centre and set buildings alight. Credit:Wolter Peeters ‘‘I’m not an animal, I’m human. I’ve been in the detention centre for 20 months.’’ Riots at Villawood could have a dramatic impact on the asylum claims of those involved, Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan says. Mr Swan said: ‘‘If people have engaged in criminal acts that has a dramatic impact on their standing and what processes they go through.’’

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell says he’s concerned there isn’t an agreement between the state and federal governments about how to deal with detention centre riots. A gas cylinder explodes in a building thought to be a medical store room. Credit:Wolter Peeters ‘‘I’ve asked for a brief on the Villawood issue, but the issue that concerns me, the issue that has not been resolved, is there is no agreement between the federal and state government on (an) emergency response to any incident at Villawood,’’ he said. ‘‘(That’s) despite ongoing evidence by emergency service of NSW to put in place such an agreement.‘‘Without an agreement there’s going to be problems. We need the agreement, it’s an issue I intend to raise with the prime minister.’’ Police at the scene. Credit:Wolter Peeters

At least three buildings were set alight in the protest, which began about 10pm yesterday and involved up to 100 immigration detainees at the height of the drama. By daybreak, immigration spokesman Sandi Logan said firefighters had contained the fires and, although three or four people remained on the roof, the situation was otherwise in hand. At one stage many of the protesters were flinging, were hurling roof tiles and pieces of furniture, and other clumps of wood at the firefighters A dining room, a computer room and medical centre have all been destroyed. 'Clients'

Mr Logan, who called the detainees "clients", condemned the "appalling" behaviour of protesters who pelted firefighters with tiles, furniture and timber as they arrived to put out the fires. "At one stage many of the protesters were flinging, were hurling roof tiles and pieces of furniture, and other clumps of wood at the firefighters," he told ABC Radio. It wasn't until the riot squad turned up that they were able to go in and tackle the blaze. Mr Logan said non-compliant behaviour from asylum seekers was nothing new. "It is an ongoing challenge ... to ensure we maintain the mental and physical health of our detainees," he said.

"From time to time, frankly quite unacceptable, quite appalling non-compliant behaviours have occurred and this is an example of it overnight." The trouble started in the Fowler complex of the centre. Flames from the fire rose to more than 10 metres. Superintendent Chris Jurgeit of Fire and Rescue NSW said up to 100 firefighters in 19 fire trucks battled the blaze. The protesters are believed to have been brought to Villawood from the Christmas Island detention centre. No criminal detainees at Villawood were involved in the protests. Tiles thrown

No one was injured, although furniture and tiles were thrown and an oxygen tank exploded after 2am, resulting in a loud bang that woke nearby residents. "There was just one big explosion," said Jason Ramsay who lives across the road from the centre. "It woke everyone in the street up, it was that loud." One detainee at the Hughes complex of the centre said that when the fires spread to his building, the Serco security officers ran away. "There were no officers inside. The officers ran away. I had to try and save myself." The detainee, who asked not to be named, said at least 50 people had taken shelter in the Stage 1 Blaxland complex - the high-security area of the detention centre.

"Some of us are sleeping on the floor of the cafeteria. There is only one toilet here. Some people are sleeping outside but it's very cold." The detainee said he was worried about his personal belongings left behind at the Hughes complex, saying: "I couldn't imagine life without [the] facility." Walls collapsed Superintendent Jurgeit said some of the buildings' roofs and walls collapsed, while other structures were intact but their interiors were burnt out. He said some projectiles were thrown at the firefighters when they were outside the complex but "since they have been inside the complex [to fight the fire], they were safe".



The NSW public order and riot squad were called in to try to bring the situation under control.

Problems at the centre began yesterday morning when two protesters took to the roof of an accommodation block. Up to 13 were on the roof at one stage with half a dozen detainees still up there. There are around 400 detainees at Villawood Detention Centre with 160 in the Fowler complex. Those accommodated in that complex are detainees who have usually has their applications to remain in Australia rejected. 'Only one man throwing'

Refugee activist Jamal , from the Social Justice Network, said only one man was throwing tiles at firefighters and he had come down from the roof. But he said the man might have been retaliating after Mr Daoud said he saw fire crews point their water hoses at the detainees on the roof. Mr Daoud said the detainees had been forced into the riot because they felt that was the only way the government would act. "The general public has the right to be angry," he said. "But the general public should understand that the government's action forced these people to do this."

Brami Jegan, from the Refugee Action Coalition, said she got to the centre about 1am and spotted pockets of fires, but "it didn't seem to be too out of control". An hour later, it was clear at least one building was going up completely. She believes stress and frustration were behind the riots. 'Act of desperation' "What's happened is an absolute act of desperation. It's a cry out for help."

Some have been at Villawood for close to two years, Ms Jegan told ABC Radio. "It's so obvious the profound psychological effects that mandatory and prolonged detention is having on these people, these human beings," she said. "They're always being threatened with being sent back. "They live in this constant fear, and that's really, really harmful to anyone's mental health. "They've got to the point now where they're like, what are we even doing here, we're just in prison, in indefinite prison in your country."

Mr Logan said Australia had the highest level of care in immigration detention in the world, although he conceded capacity had put the system under strain. 'Not simple' "A claim for protection, to be recognised as a refugee, is not a simple matter," he later told ABC Television. "Sometimes those processes can be extensive. "But any suggestion that they're not being informed of the progress of their claim is nonsense."

He could not verify suggestions the protest was sparked by those whose claims had been rejected. "I don't know the motivation. "But it's clearly not going to help, in terms of endearing their settlement in Australia." Should the police lay charges, it could affect the character component of their claim, Mr Logan said. "This sort of behaviour is not going to change the outcome."

The asylum seekers still on the roof are reportedly calling for a meeting with the Immigration Department, but Mr Logan said case managers would continue to be their first point of contact. "Until they come down, we won't be negotiating, but we are working and managing to get them down from the roof. Loading "We hope that occurs shortly." - with Glenda Kwek and AAP

