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| Manus Island refugee 'needs medical treatment in Australia' after alleged knife attack | Manus Island refugee 'needs medical treatment in Australia' after alleged knife attack |
| (7 months later) | |
| Refugee who lives in the immigration detention centre suffered serious injuries when he was allegedly robbed by locals, advocates say | |
| • WARNING: Graphic images below | |
| Helen Davidson | |
| Mon 26 Jun 2017 11.02 BST | |
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| A man who was allegedly attacked with knives during a robbery on Manus Island last week needs to be brought to Australia for medical treatment, advocates have said. | A man who was allegedly attacked with knives during a robbery on Manus Island last week needs to be brought to Australia for medical treatment, advocates have said. |
| The man, a refugee living at the Australian-run immigration detention centre, suffered serious injuries on Wednesday morning when he was allegedly robbed by some locals, according to the Kurdish-Iranian journalist Behrouz Boochani. | The man, a refugee living at the Australian-run immigration detention centre, suffered serious injuries on Wednesday morning when he was allegedly robbed by some locals, according to the Kurdish-Iranian journalist Behrouz Boochani. |
| Another man was also robbed at knife-point the same day, and two others were robbed just last month. All four are living in the open detention centre. | Another man was also robbed at knife-point the same day, and two others were robbed just last month. All four are living in the open detention centre. |
| “This man was walking in the town and then some men held a knife to his body and asked for his belongings,” Boochani said. “When the refugee refused to give his phone to them they attacked his hand with the knife very seriously.” | “This man was walking in the town and then some men held a knife to his body and asked for his belongings,” Boochani said. “When the refugee refused to give his phone to them they attacked his hand with the knife very seriously.” |
| Photographs purported to be of the man’s injuries show large deep gashes to his arms. | Photographs purported to be of the man’s injuries show large deep gashes to his arms. |
| According to advocates, the man has since been flown to Port Moresby for treatment, but they called for him to be brought to Australia to see a specialist surgeon. | According to advocates, the man has since been flown to Port Moresby for treatment, but they called for him to be brought to Australia to see a specialist surgeon. |
| Boochani said the other three men were uninjured, but the four incidents were part of an increasing problem with violence in the community and a lack of protection for refugees. | Boochani said the other three men were uninjured, but the four incidents were part of an increasing problem with violence in the community and a lack of protection for refugees. |
| “The Lorengau town has a small population, but the Australian government is trying to settle people there by force even though Manusian people are afraid of having 800 strange men in their community,” said Boochani. | “The Lorengau town has a small population, but the Australian government is trying to settle people there by force even though Manusian people are afraid of having 800 strange men in their community,” said Boochani. |
| “If anything bad happens to the refugees Australia is responsible.” | “If anything bad happens to the refugees Australia is responsible.” |
| The Papua New Guinea police regional commander, David Yapu, told Guardian Australia he had not received a report of such an attack. | The Papua New Guinea police regional commander, David Yapu, told Guardian Australia he had not received a report of such an attack. |
| Boochani suggested many refugees and asylum seekers had stopped reporting incidents to police because they didn’t think anything would be done. | Boochani suggested many refugees and asylum seekers had stopped reporting incidents to police because they didn’t think anything would be done. |
| Around 80 additional police officers have been stationed on Manus recently, due to the PNG national election. | Around 80 additional police officers have been stationed on Manus recently, due to the PNG national election. |
| Tensions in the region have been high, with a number of reported attacks on refugees and asylum seekers by locals, and some on locals by asylum seekers or refugees. | Tensions in the region have been high, with a number of reported attacks on refugees and asylum seekers by locals, and some on locals by asylum seekers or refugees. |
| Nine people were injured when navy personnel on a “drunken rampage” opened fire on the processing centre on Good Friday. | Nine people were injured when navy personnel on a “drunken rampage” opened fire on the processing centre on Good Friday. |
| The human rights lawyer George Newhouse said the alleged attacks were “extremely worrying” as detainees are moved out of the processing centre ahead of its closure in October. The centre has been partially closed, including some accommodation blocks and gym areas. | The human rights lawyer George Newhouse said the alleged attacks were “extremely worrying” as detainees are moved out of the processing centre ahead of its closure in October. The centre has been partially closed, including some accommodation blocks and gym areas. |
| Non-refugees in Mike compound have been told to “make space” for refugees moving in from Foxtrot compound. | Non-refugees in Mike compound have been told to “make space” for refugees moving in from Foxtrot compound. |
| Refugees are able to settle in the community or move into the East Lorengau transit centre, which is being expanded. However there are still concerns it will not be big enough and that refugees are not safe there. | Refugees are able to settle in the community or move into the East Lorengau transit centre, which is being expanded. However there are still concerns it will not be big enough and that refugees are not safe there. |
| “It’s a shocking irony that people feel safer in detention that they do outside,” said Newhouse. “What does that tell you about the conditions on Manus?” | “It’s a shocking irony that people feel safer in detention that they do outside,” said Newhouse. “What does that tell you about the conditions on Manus?” |
| Earlier this month the Australian government agreed to pay more than $70m to nearly 2,000 men who had been held on Manus, in compensation for illegally detaining them in dangerous conditions. | Earlier this month the Australian government agreed to pay more than $70m to nearly 2,000 men who had been held on Manus, in compensation for illegally detaining them in dangerous conditions. |
| Newhouse said the Australian government needed to find an alternate place to keep people in the long-term. | Newhouse said the Australian government needed to find an alternate place to keep people in the long-term. |
| “Assuming they aren’t going to be brought to Australia, the Australian government is seeking to abandon these vulnerable people in the community on Manus Island,” he said. | “Assuming they aren’t going to be brought to Australia, the Australian government is seeking to abandon these vulnerable people in the community on Manus Island,” he said. |
| “As I see it the [short-term] solution is to keep the detention centre open so they can maintain the physical safety of those who don’t go to the USA.” | “As I see it the [short-term] solution is to keep the detention centre open so they can maintain the physical safety of those who don’t go to the USA.” |
| The immigration department said the incident was a matter for the PNG government. | The immigration department said the incident was a matter for the PNG government. |
| Manus Island | |
| Australian immigration and asylum | |
| Migration | |
| Papua New Guinea | |
| Refugees | |
| Asia Pacific | |
| news | |
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