More riots hit Australian refugee camp

The Curtin camp has been hit by riots before, such as this one 12 months ago

SYDNEY, Australia -- Australia's remote Curtin detention center has been hit by more rioting and an overnight fire as hundreds of asylum seekers protest over the rejection of their claims for refugee status and their treatment and conditions in the camp.

Australia's Justice Minister Chris Ellison told radio listeners Monday that officials were now attempting to negotiate with detainees, some of whom were armed with sharpened sticks and knives.

The latest trouble began on Friday night when detainees began smashing computers and throwing rocks and pieces of concrete at staff.

One security officer was hospitalized after being knocked unconscious in that disturbance and another 27 guards have also sustained minor injures.

Ellison said some of the detainees had surrendered their homemade weapons but about 300 were refusing to negotiate with government authorities at the Western Australian camp.

EXTRA INFORMATION Detention: Australia's choice    MORE STORIES • One too many asylum seekers     CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

There are currently about 340 asylum seekers in Curtin, which is in the town of Derby on Australia's northwest coast, about 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles) north of the state capital of Perth.

"We've had a voluntary return of weapons, five knives and two meat cleavers have been handed over," Ellison said Monday.

"We've had unfortunately a fire overnight, we believe it was deliberately lit. The welfare building, as we call it at the detention center, was extensively damaged," Ellison said.

Ellison said some asylum seekers helped put out the fire.

"We're willing to talk to the detainees but our patience is not limitless," he said. "What occurs today will be crucial in the resolution of this issue."

"We want to resolve this peacefully but if the detainees, the smaller number who seem to be the ones that have instigated the disturbance don't, then we'll have to consider action."

"In the past we've been able to extract those responsible for disturbances from the main body of detainees and that could well be a consideration."

Long process

The government statements on the Curtin riot are unable to be verified independently because of a media ban on access to the detention camps and contact with asylum seekers.

Australia has a policy of detaining all illegal immigrants, including women and children while their applications for refugee status are assessed.

This process can take many months, or even years, if the applicants appeal against an unfavorable outcome.

Conditions in the spartan camps have been criticized many times by independent reports, despite government assurances that the facilities there are adequate.

The camps have been the scene of numerous riots and protests over the past two years, particularly at Curtin, and at Woomera in South Australia, where inmates recently went on a 15-day hunger strike.