Nauru's police commissioner was sacked at the height of a riot that destroyed a refugee detention centre on the island. The commissioner was allegedly sacked after telling the acting president of Nauru that he could not contain the riots.
More than 125 refugees were jailed on Saturday night after the violence, reportedly led by Iranian refugees angered by delays in claims processing and overcrowding at the facility.
Hundreds were accommodated in tents after the centre was almost entirely destroyed by fire.
Refugee advocate groups have raised concerns over the potential for similar outbreaks in other offshore detention centres such as in Papua New Guinea.
Ian Rintoul of the Refugee Action Coalition said:
More than 125 refugees were jailed on Saturday night after the violence, reportedly led by Iranian refugees angered by delays in claims processing and overcrowding at the facility.
Hundreds were accommodated in tents after the centre was almost entirely destroyed by fire.
Refugee advocate groups have raised concerns over the potential for similar outbreaks in other offshore detention centres such as in Papua New Guinea.
Ian Rintoul of the Refugee Action Coalition said:
"If you want to see the future of Manus Island, take a good look at Nauru. What happened at Nauru happened with 500 people in it. Imagine (what could happen) at a detention centre with 3000."
