This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/27/manus-island-closure-faces-local-opposition-and-legal-challenge
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Manus Island closure: PNG's notorious police mobile squad to be deployed | Manus Island closure: PNG's notorious police mobile squad to be deployed |
| (3 months later) | |
| 700 men refusing to leave detention centre, with authorities warning the safety of refugees and staff is ‘not to be taken for granted’ | |
| Ben Doherty and | |
| Helen Davidson | |
| Fri 27 Oct 2017 00.35 BST | |
| First published on Thu 26 Oct 2017 21.01 BST | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| Extra Papua New Guinean police and the notorious mobile squad will be brought in to Manus Island ahead of next week’s forced closure of the immigration detention centre, with authorities warning people’s safety is “not to be taken for granted”. | Extra Papua New Guinean police and the notorious mobile squad will be brought in to Manus Island ahead of next week’s forced closure of the immigration detention centre, with authorities warning people’s safety is “not to be taken for granted”. |
| The increased security presence comes as Australia’s plan to close the centre faces potential violent resistance from the island’s community and as well as a court challenge. | The increased security presence comes as Australia’s plan to close the centre faces potential violent resistance from the island’s community and as well as a court challenge. |
| The police commissioner, Gary Baki, said the extra units would be made available to assist the immigration department in relocating the more than 700 men to the purpose-built alternative accommodation in the nearby town of Lorengau. | The police commissioner, Gary Baki, said the extra units would be made available to assist the immigration department in relocating the more than 700 men to the purpose-built alternative accommodation in the nearby town of Lorengau. |
| “Extra manpower is on standby to be deployed to Manus Island to assist the local police in addition to the two Mobile Squad now on the island,” the PNG police force said. | “Extra manpower is on standby to be deployed to Manus Island to assist the local police in addition to the two Mobile Squad now on the island,” the PNG police force said. |
| “The safety of both the refugees and government workers plus staff of leading agencies is not to be taken for granted given the tension that is now being expressed by the locals on Manus Island.” | “The safety of both the refugees and government workers plus staff of leading agencies is not to be taken for granted given the tension that is now being expressed by the locals on Manus Island.” |
| Elaine Pearson, Australian director of Human Rights Watch, said Baki’s statement acknowledged the escalating tension, and forcibly removing refugees and asylum seekers now would “clearly expose them to greater danger”. | Elaine Pearson, Australian director of Human Rights Watch, said Baki’s statement acknowledged the escalating tension, and forcibly removing refugees and asylum seekers now would “clearly expose them to greater danger”. |
| “PNG police should do their job and investigate assaults against refugees rather than helping transfer refugees to a place where they will be even more vulnerable.” | “PNG police should do their job and investigate assaults against refugees rather than helping transfer refugees to a place where they will be even more vulnerable.” |
| The centre is slated for closure next Tuesday. Officials have already told the men still living there that water and electricity will be shut off, and access to food and water stopped on Sunday. The men have been told they will be given “food packs” to last two days. | The centre is slated for closure next Tuesday. Officials have already told the men still living there that water and electricity will be shut off, and access to food and water stopped on Sunday. The men have been told they will be given “food packs” to last two days. |
| The refugees and asylum seekers still inside the Manus detention centre have said they will refuse to leave, even when the PNG military seek to take over the compound. They say they are unsafe in the Manus community. | The refugees and asylum seekers still inside the Manus detention centre have said they will refuse to leave, even when the PNG military seek to take over the compound. They say they are unsafe in the Manus community. |
| But the 31 October closure of the detention centre – sparked by a PNG supreme court decision 18 months ago that its operation was “illegal and unconstitutional” – faces significant opposition. | But the 31 October closure of the detention centre – sparked by a PNG supreme court decision 18 months ago that its operation was “illegal and unconstitutional” – faces significant opposition. |
| Lawyer Ben Lomai, who in a previous supreme court challenge has represented those detained on Manus, has said he will seek orders from the court that food and water should be provided to those in the centre beyond 31 October. | Lawyer Ben Lomai, who in a previous supreme court challenge has represented those detained on Manus, has said he will seek orders from the court that food and water should be provided to those in the centre beyond 31 October. |
| “If there’s anything, food and water should be maintained because that’s their constitutional right,” he told Radio New Zealand. “So you can’t deny them food and water. So if they are allowed to stay there then those are the two services they can be entitled to. Other things can be subject to further negotiation.” | “If there’s anything, food and water should be maintained because that’s their constitutional right,” he told Radio New Zealand. “So you can’t deny them food and water. So if they are allowed to stay there then those are the two services they can be entitled to. Other things can be subject to further negotiation.” |
| He said he would also seek orders guaranteeing the men’s safety if and when they are moved to Lorengau, and a requirement that refugees are offered resettlement in a third country. | He said he would also seek orders guaranteeing the men’s safety if and when they are moved to Lorengau, and a requirement that refugees are offered resettlement in a third country. |
| The Manus Island governor, Charlie Benjamin, said the province’s reputation had been damaged by the constant scandals attached to the detention centre. Six men have died while being held on the island, and a riot in 2014, when the detention centre was stormed by police and outsiders, saw asylum seekers shot, beaten and attacked with machetes. One was killed by guards and more than 70 seriously injured. | The Manus Island governor, Charlie Benjamin, said the province’s reputation had been damaged by the constant scandals attached to the detention centre. Six men have died while being held on the island, and a riot in 2014, when the detention centre was stormed by police and outsiders, saw asylum seekers shot, beaten and attacked with machetes. One was killed by guards and more than 70 seriously injured. |
| Benjamin told the Post-Courier Australia should compensate Manus with a significant infrastructure project, such as a hospital, before the centre is shut. | Benjamin told the Post-Courier Australia should compensate Manus with a significant infrastructure project, such as a hospital, before the centre is shut. |
| “The Australian government and the PNG government, they more or less used us and they didn’t help us. We appreciate what little they helped us with, but looking at the enormity of the project now, the type of help we are getting, is that enough to compensate our province? | “The Australian government and the PNG government, they more or less used us and they didn’t help us. We appreciate what little they helped us with, but looking at the enormity of the project now, the type of help we are getting, is that enough to compensate our province? |
| “Maybe to them it is enough, but to all of us it is not enough, especially now, throughout the world, thanks to the outside media, everybody now knows that Manus is the worst province in the whole of PNG because we allegedly did not look after these asylum [seekers] or refugees,” he said. | “Maybe to them it is enough, but to all of us it is not enough, especially now, throughout the world, thanks to the outside media, everybody now knows that Manus is the worst province in the whole of PNG because we allegedly did not look after these asylum [seekers] or refugees,” he said. |
| A town meeting held in Ward 1 of Lorengau township this week heard from a number of Manusians who have vowed to oppose the resettlement of refugees in their community. A petition being circulated in Lorengau calls on the Australian government to take the men to Australia while third countries are found for their resettlement. | A town meeting held in Ward 1 of Lorengau township this week heard from a number of Manusians who have vowed to oppose the resettlement of refugees in their community. A petition being circulated in Lorengau calls on the Australian government to take the men to Australia while third countries are found for their resettlement. |
| Civic leaders have been warning for months that the imposition of more than 700 single men within the conservative, tight-knit and familial community of Lorengau will prove disastrous. Many of the refugees and asylum seekers are suffering from acute physical and mental health problems, and require significant care. Some refugees have been given a month’s worth of tablets and other medications with the centre closing down, but no further medical guidance or assistance. | Civic leaders have been warning for months that the imposition of more than 700 single men within the conservative, tight-knit and familial community of Lorengau will prove disastrous. Many of the refugees and asylum seekers are suffering from acute physical and mental health problems, and require significant care. Some refugees have been given a month’s worth of tablets and other medications with the centre closing down, but no further medical guidance or assistance. |
| Some at the meeting, Manus sources told the Guardian, threatened to blockade and vandalise the new refugee and asylum seeker accommodation being built, and violence against those building it. | Some at the meeting, Manus sources told the Guardian, threatened to blockade and vandalise the new refugee and asylum seeker accommodation being built, and violence against those building it. |
| Former Manus MP Ronnie Knight, who has been an outspoken critic of Australia’s imposition of the detention centre on Manus, said forcibly closing the centre and abandoning refugees on the island would be dangerous. | Former Manus MP Ronnie Knight, who has been an outspoken critic of Australia’s imposition of the detention centre on Manus, said forcibly closing the centre and abandoning refugees on the island would be dangerous. |
| “Australia, PNG and UNHCR should get their shit together and find a solution for both my people and refugees before any more needless deaths occur. | “Australia, PNG and UNHCR should get their shit together and find a solution for both my people and refugees before any more needless deaths occur. |
| “I foresee drunk local youths going too far. I foresee more sexual assaults on locals which will inflame the situation and [the] refugees [are] sitting ducks.” | “I foresee drunk local youths going too far. I foresee more sexual assaults on locals which will inflame the situation and [the] refugees [are] sitting ducks.” |
| Manus Island | |
| Australian immigration and asylum | |
| Papua New Guinea | |
| Asia Pacific | |
| Migration | |
| Refugees | |
| news | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |