SENT TO THE HARD YARDS

(Saturday Telegraph April 23rd 2011:) Sydney Australia: By: Alison Rehn and Gemma Jones. (NEWS).

Rioting asylum seekers have swapped their plasma televisions they torched at Villawood Immigration Detention Center for no-frills prison cells.
Twenty two men sent to Silverwater's maximum security jail yesterday for Australian Federal Police interviews now have no televisions, personal possessions, cigarettes or matches while in custody of jail boss Ron Woodham. On Thursday morning rioters, whose asylum applications had already been rejected, burned down nine buildings, including a recreation room with Plastma TV's and computers and a medical centre. We will not put up with any nonsense or shennanigans and they will be escorted by custodial staff at all times, Mr Woodham said. The 22 had medical checks and would be given access to lawyers and interpreters. It emerged yesterday the detainees rioted unchallenged for almost two hours because it was considered too unsafe to send in emergency services. Police and firemen waited at the gates as building burned.
A Department of Immigration spokeswoman said they were prevented from entering the SERCO-run center for safety reasons. She said the detainees were transferred to Silverwater as they posed a security risk. These people are considered an unacceptable risk to the good order of the Villawood Immigration Detention Center, she said.