By Dan Harrison
Seven people including a staff member were injured in a Christmas eve scuffle between asylum seekers on the Australian immigration detention centre on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea.
A spokesman for Immigration Minister Chris Bowen confirmed seven people sustained minor injuries in the clash between Tamil and Iranian asylum seekers.
It is believed the incident happened in the internet room, when the Iranian detainees tried to recruit the Tamil detainees to protest, and the Tamils refused to take part.
A staff member for G4S, the company contracted to run the centre on behalf of the Australian Government was among those injured.
All were treated on site.
PNG police attended the centre and spoke to witnesses but have not taken any action. Its investigation is ongoing.
The Minister’s spokesman said following the incident about 20 Iranian detainees staged a sit-in protest in the internet room for much of the day, before ending their protest voluntarily.
About 130 people are being held on Manus Island, including women and about 30 children. The centre is holding detainees from Sri Lanka, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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