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Nauru's president says abuse reports 'cooked up' by detention centre workers Nauru's president says abuse reports 'cooked up' by detention centre workers
(6 days later)
The president of Nauru has alleged that the caseworkers, guards, teachers and doctors who filed the incident reports that comprise the Nauru files have “cooked up” many of the incidents.The president of Nauru has alleged that the caseworkers, guards, teachers and doctors who filed the incident reports that comprise the Nauru files have “cooked up” many of the incidents.
“There are people that are advocates and those sorts of people who are wanting to discredit the program, they are always quick to put out negative sort of stuff in the media,” Baron Waqa said in an interview with Channel News Asia in Malaysia.“There are people that are advocates and those sorts of people who are wanting to discredit the program, they are always quick to put out negative sort of stuff in the media,” Baron Waqa said in an interview with Channel News Asia in Malaysia.
“But no, these allegations are unfounded and we will continue to get down to the bottom of it but as far as Nauru is concerned we look at every individual complaint there is and very quickly they’ve been thrown out, been things that have been made up, a lot of them.“But no, these allegations are unfounded and we will continue to get down to the bottom of it but as far as Nauru is concerned we look at every individual complaint there is and very quickly they’ve been thrown out, been things that have been made up, a lot of them.
“It’s sad ... because sometimes media overseas tend to play up these allegations, which have been just cooked up. And we have tried to address them and we’ve seen that a lot of them were just made up.”“It’s sad ... because sometimes media overseas tend to play up these allegations, which have been just cooked up. And we have tried to address them and we’ve seen that a lot of them were just made up.”
Related: More than 100 current and former Nauru and Manus staff call for detention centres to close
The Nauru files, published last week by the Guardian, detail more than 2,100 incident reports from within the Nauru regional processing centre. They reported systemic physical and sexual abuses, humiliating treatment and harsh conditions, and widespread self-harm and suicide attempts.The Nauru files, published last week by the Guardian, detail more than 2,100 incident reports from within the Nauru regional processing centre. They reported systemic physical and sexual abuses, humiliating treatment and harsh conditions, and widespread self-harm and suicide attempts.
The incident reports in the Nauru files are written and filed not by asylum seekers or refugees but by people employed to work in the detention centre. The files show incident reports written by case workers, child protection specialists, guards and medical staff.The incident reports in the Nauru files are written and filed not by asylum seekers or refugees but by people employed to work in the detention centre. The files show incident reports written by case workers, child protection specialists, guards and medical staff.
Some of the more than 2000 incident reports in the files are complaints or allegations of improper or illegal behaviour. However, there are also firsthand reports of sexual or physical assaults, fights, problems with food, water or sanitation, acts of self-harm or suicide attempts witnessed by workers at the centre. Many have been corroborated by independent reporting, pictures and medical evidence.Some of the more than 2000 incident reports in the files are complaints or allegations of improper or illegal behaviour. However, there are also firsthand reports of sexual or physical assaults, fights, problems with food, water or sanitation, acts of self-harm or suicide attempts witnessed by workers at the centre. Many have been corroborated by independent reporting, pictures and medical evidence.
“I think we’ve done our best to handle all the problems and I think the main thing is to process the asylum seekers,” Waqa said.“I think we’ve done our best to handle all the problems and I think the main thing is to process the asylum seekers,” Waqa said.
Waqa said despite foreign criticism and opposition to offshore processing, “the regional processing centre is a program that’s been going on for quite some time and it’s been going very very well”.Waqa said despite foreign criticism and opposition to offshore processing, “the regional processing centre is a program that’s been going on for quite some time and it’s been going very very well”.
Waqa, recently re-elected as president to a second three-year term, said regional co-operation was needed to address the issue of irregular migration and that Australia’s policy of offshore processing had been effective in stopping boat journeys.Waqa, recently re-elected as president to a second three-year term, said regional co-operation was needed to address the issue of irregular migration and that Australia’s policy of offshore processing had been effective in stopping boat journeys.
“We need to work together, everyone needs to try and address this problem with asylum seekers. It’s a huge problem in Europe and elsewhere. We know that it will continue to escalate in Europe but we are more fortunate in this part of our world. It’s sort of quietened down a great deal, especially in illegal entry into Australia. That has stopped.”“We need to work together, everyone needs to try and address this problem with asylum seekers. It’s a huge problem in Europe and elsewhere. We know that it will continue to escalate in Europe but we are more fortunate in this part of our world. It’s sort of quietened down a great deal, especially in illegal entry into Australia. That has stopped.”
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Waqa’s comments mirror those of Australia’s immigration minister, Peter Dutton, who last week dismissed many of the Nauru files reports as “hype”, previously known, or false. Dutton also accused asylum seekers of committing acts of self-immolation in order to get to Australia.Waqa’s comments mirror those of Australia’s immigration minister, Peter Dutton, who last week dismissed many of the Nauru files reports as “hype”, previously known, or false. Dutton also accused asylum seekers of committing acts of self-immolation in order to get to Australia.
But Waqa’s comments come the same day as 103 former workers on Nauru signed an open letter saying conditions on Nauru had reached “crisis level” and that all asylum seekers and refugees on the island should be brought immediately to Australia.But Waqa’s comments come the same day as 103 former workers on Nauru signed an open letter saying conditions on Nauru had reached “crisis level” and that all asylum seekers and refugees on the island should be brought immediately to Australia.
As well, 1800 academics have signed an open letter to the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and all members of parliament, urging “a more just and humane approach to refugees”.As well, 1800 academics have signed an open letter to the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and all members of parliament, urging “a more just and humane approach to refugees”.
The academics, from universities across the country, called for an immediate end to offshore processing, boat turnbacks and mandatory detention.The academics, from universities across the country, called for an immediate end to offshore processing, boat turnbacks and mandatory detention.