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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/23/manus-island-png-police-move-into-detention-centre-and-tell-refugees-to-leave
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| Manus Island: PNG police move into detention centre and tell refugees to leave | Manus Island: PNG police move into detention centre and tell refugees to leave |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A police operation is under way on Manus Island, with Papua New Guinean police and immigration officers entering the former detention centre in an effort to move detainees out, more than three weeks into a deteriorating humanitarian crisis. | A police operation is under way on Manus Island, with Papua New Guinean police and immigration officers entering the former detention centre in an effort to move detainees out, more than three weeks into a deteriorating humanitarian crisis. |
| A number of refugees inside the centre have reported large numbers of officers, including the paramilitary police mobile squad, have entered and given them an hour to leave. The officers shouted at detainees and demanded that they hand over phones. | A number of refugees inside the centre have reported large numbers of officers, including the paramilitary police mobile squad, have entered and given them an hour to leave. The officers shouted at detainees and demanded that they hand over phones. |
| Julia Gillard's Labor government reopens detention centre – not used since 2004 – and the first 19 asylum seekers arrive from Christmas island. | Julia Gillard's Labor government reopens detention centre – not used since 2004 – and the first 19 asylum seekers arrive from Christmas island. |
| A UNHCR report finds every asylum seeker on Manus displays signs of anxiety and depression. | A UNHCR report finds every asylum seeker on Manus displays signs of anxiety and depression. |
| New Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd announces people who seek asylum by boat will never be settled in Australia, with all sent to Manus or Nauru. | New Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd announces people who seek asylum by boat will never be settled in Australia, with all sent to Manus or Nauru. |
| Three days of violence leaves 70 detainees seriously injured, with some shot by police, stabbed and with their throats slit. Iranian detainee Reza Barati is murdered after security guards inflict fatal head injuries during the riot. | Three days of violence leaves 70 detainees seriously injured, with some shot by police, stabbed and with their throats slit. Iranian detainee Reza Barati is murdered after security guards inflict fatal head injuries during the riot. |
| Iranian Hamid Kehazaei dies after a delayed medical evacuation to Australia, as a treatable bacterial infection develops into septicaemia. | Iranian Hamid Kehazaei dies after a delayed medical evacuation to Australia, as a treatable bacterial infection develops into septicaemia. |
| More than 500 men begin a two-week hunger strike in protest against conditions on the island. Two stitch their lips together, three swallow razor blades and collapsing strikers have to be forcibly removed by security. | More than 500 men begin a two-week hunger strike in protest against conditions on the island. Two stitch their lips together, three swallow razor blades and collapsing strikers have to be forcibly removed by security. |
| A Guardian investigation reveals widespread failings in the healthcare services provided by IHMS in detention centres, including Manus Island. | A Guardian investigation reveals widespread failings in the healthcare services provided by IHMS in detention centres, including Manus Island. |
| A PNG woman employed by Transfield alleges she was raped by Australian colleagues inside the centre. The alleged perpetrators are flown out of the country. | A PNG woman employed by Transfield alleges she was raped by Australian colleagues inside the centre. The alleged perpetrators are flown out of the country. |
| Papua New Guinea supreme court rules the detention centre is illegal and unconstitutional and must be closed. | Papua New Guinea supreme court rules the detention centre is illegal and unconstitutional and must be closed. |
| Australia confirms Manus detention centre will close but says none of the 854 men still there will be resettled in Australia. | Australia confirms Manus detention centre will close but says none of the 854 men still there will be resettled in Australia. |
| Sudanese refugee Faysal Ishak Ahmed dies after six months of suffering numerous blackouts, falls and seizures inside the detention centre. | Sudanese refugee Faysal Ishak Ahmed dies after six months of suffering numerous blackouts, falls and seizures inside the detention centre. |
| PNG immigration officials confirm the centre will close on 31 October, and tell detainees to 'consider their options'. Over the following months basic services are shut down around detainees, to encourage them to leave | PNG immigration officials confirm the centre will close on 31 October, and tell detainees to 'consider their options'. Over the following months basic services are shut down around detainees, to encourage them to leave |
| The Australian government settles a class action, paying $70m compensation to more than 2,000 detainees for illegal detention and mistreatment, but denies any liability. | The Australian government settles a class action, paying $70m compensation to more than 2,000 detainees for illegal detention and mistreatment, but denies any liability. |
| Iranian asylum seeker Hamed Shamshiripour is found dead, having taken his own life. His friends say they pleaded with the Australian government to provide treatment for his mental health problems. | Iranian asylum seeker Hamed Shamshiripour is found dead, having taken his own life. His friends say they pleaded with the Australian government to provide treatment for his mental health problems. |
| Twenty-five men leave Papua New Guinea for the US under a resettlement deal between Australia and the US. The total number to be transferred is still uncertain, with the US under no obligation to take a set amount. | Twenty-five men leave Papua New Guinea for the US under a resettlement deal between Australia and the US. The total number to be transferred is still uncertain, with the US under no obligation to take a set amount. |
| A formally recognised refugee dies in Lorengau hospital. | A formally recognised refugee dies in Lorengau hospital. |
| A week before it's due to close, it’s revealed more than 600 detainees are refusing to leave the centre, citing fears for their safety in Lorengau. | A week before it's due to close, it’s revealed more than 600 detainees are refusing to leave the centre, citing fears for their safety in Lorengau. |
| Refugees described police as intimidating and aggressive as they dismantled structures and threw away refugees’ belongings. One officer was seen carrying a large bush knife, which are common on Manus. | |
| A video livestreamed from inside the facility showed men chanting “human rights help us, they want to kill us”, and two men apparently unconscious. Walid Zazai, filming the scene, said it was a medical emergency but they had no assistance. | |
| “We don’t know if he had a heart attack because he had previously problems,” Zazai said of one. | |
| The second unconscious man had a history of epileptic attacks, he said. | |
| https://t.co/BEa5yhYZXV | |
| We need urgent help any Dr of nurses we have one refugee in very bad conditions pic.twitter.com/voXXtSQUYI | |
| On Thursday morning Australia’s immigration minister, Peter Dutton, confirmed a “police operation” was underway at the centre, and accused the detainees of trashing it. | On Thursday morning Australia’s immigration minister, Peter Dutton, confirmed a “police operation” was underway at the centre, and accused the detainees of trashing it. |
| “I think it’s outrageous that people are still there,” he told 2GB radio. “They’ve trashed the facility, they’re living in squalor.” | “I think it’s outrageous that people are still there,” he told 2GB radio. “They’ve trashed the facility, they’re living in squalor.” |
| “The Australian taxpayers have paid about $10m for a new facility and we want people to move.” | “The Australian taxpayers have paid about $10m for a new facility and we want people to move.” |
| He likened the situation to building a new house for tenants but they refuse to move in. | He likened the situation to building a new house for tenants but they refuse to move in. |
| Dutton’s repeated claims that the alternative accommodation units are ready and suitable for detainees has been repeatedly debunked by observers and published videos and photos of blocked toilets, bathrooms without water, and buildings still under construction. Detainees have repeatedly claimed they are not safe in Lorengau, citing frequent violent attacks and the lack of security at the new facilities. | |
| Some refugees have taken shelter on the roof of buildings inside the decommissioned detention centre. Some had been sleeping on top of shipping containers, in expectation the police would move in. | |
| They destroying all our property. They are so angry, and telling us leave our landFirst they said move to town,now more angry and telling us leave our land otherwise we will kill u.Police commissioner Yapu said: It's an Order from Australian and PNG governments to move u out pic.twitter.com/uyA7p4wcsI | They destroying all our property. They are so angry, and telling us leave our landFirst they said move to town,now more angry and telling us leave our land otherwise we will kill u.Police commissioner Yapu said: It's an Order from Australian and PNG governments to move u out pic.twitter.com/uyA7p4wcsI |
| This photo will show how peaceful we are and how we respond to the immigration and police to the violence and aggressive behavior pic.twitter.com/9lnUQ3yXyO | |
| Behrouz Boochani, a journalist and refugee inside the centre, said immigration and police had started searching rooms and telling refugees and asylum seekers: “Move, move,” and, “You only have an hour to move.” | Behrouz Boochani, a journalist and refugee inside the centre, said immigration and police had started searching rooms and telling refugees and asylum seekers: “Move, move,” and, “You only have an hour to move.” |
| Boochani said some refugees were building barriers to halt police progress, others were hiding in the centre. “We are blockading right now,” he said. | Boochani said some refugees were building barriers to halt police progress, others were hiding in the centre. “We are blockading right now,” he said. |
| They are taking the phones and are very aggresive and are taking out some refugees who still remain in the rooms. Something terrible is happening right now, they are taking the refugees out of the rooms. | They are taking the phones and are very aggresive and are taking out some refugees who still remain in the rooms. Something terrible is happening right now, they are taking the refugees out of the rooms. |
| He added: “They are destroying everything. Shelters, tanks, beds and all of our belongings. They are very aggressive and put our belongings in the rubbish bins. The refugees still are silent are watching them so scared. | He added: “They are destroying everything. Shelters, tanks, beds and all of our belongings. They are very aggressive and put our belongings in the rubbish bins. The refugees still are silent are watching them so scared. |
| “The refugees are sitting peacefully and immigration and police are asking them to leave the prison camp. The refugees are only listening and completely silent. They are talking on the microphone and shouting ‘move, move’.” | “The refugees are sitting peacefully and immigration and police are asking them to leave the prison camp. The refugees are only listening and completely silent. They are talking on the microphone and shouting ‘move, move’.” |
| Video from the Sudanese refugee Abdul Aziz Adam shows immigration officials in yellow shirts surrounded by uniformed police officers. One uniformed PNG police officer is issuing instructions over a megaphone to the 380 men barricaded inside. | Video from the Sudanese refugee Abdul Aziz Adam shows immigration officials in yellow shirts surrounded by uniformed police officers. One uniformed PNG police officer is issuing instructions over a megaphone to the 380 men barricaded inside. |
| “This place where you are living right now is no longer legal centre for the refugees and non-refugees reside,” the officer says. “This place will be handed back to the PNG defence force. | “This place where you are living right now is no longer legal centre for the refugees and non-refugees reside,” the officer says. “This place will be handed back to the PNG defence force. |
| “It is their military base, and your staying here … would be seen as illegal and unlawful. | “It is their military base, and your staying here … would be seen as illegal and unlawful. |
| “All the services have been cut off, and I sympathise for that, and there is no power, there is no water.” | “All the services have been cut off, and I sympathise for that, and there is no power, there is no water.” |
| PNG police had originally planned to launch its “Operation Helpim Friends” on Wednesday, but it was cancelled pending the outcome of a legal appeal, now adjourned to 15 December. The police commissioner, Gari Baki, described the operation as “politely” asking the detainees to leave voluntarily, and said no force would be used. | |
| There had been earlier reports the Australian federal police were involved, but a spokesman for the AFP said their one liaison officer on the island was not involved in Thursday’s action. | |
| EMERGENCY #Manus #ManusSOS Police navy immigration pushing us to move'They were so aggressive with us when they come pushing, running behind us they pushed me on the ground wanted my phone i get up and ran@ManusAlert pic.twitter.com/95c6rVdiHt | EMERGENCY #Manus #ManusSOS Police navy immigration pushing us to move'They were so aggressive with us when they come pushing, running behind us they pushed me on the ground wanted my phone i get up and ran@ManusAlert pic.twitter.com/95c6rVdiHt |
| On Thursday morning a letter, signed by Australians of the Year between 1983 and 2015, pleaded with the Australian government to restore essential services and allow doctors to treat the men who remain inside the centre. | On Thursday morning a letter, signed by Australians of the Year between 1983 and 2015, pleaded with the Australian government to restore essential services and allow doctors to treat the men who remain inside the centre. |
| The situation inside the centre is deteriorating, and the letter warned it was “inevitable” that people would become sick and even die because of the lack of food and water, medical care and sanitation. | The situation inside the centre is deteriorating, and the letter warned it was “inevitable” that people would become sick and even die because of the lack of food and water, medical care and sanitation. |
| Last week members of the Australian Medical Association voted unanimously to call on the government to allow doctors access to the centre, to assess the men’s health and living conditions. | Last week members of the Australian Medical Association voted unanimously to call on the government to allow doctors access to the centre, to assess the men’s health and living conditions. |
| On Wednesday the UNHCR said the humanitarian crisis was human-made and entirely preventable. It was a “damning indictment of a policy meant to avoid Australia’s international obligations”, said Nai Jit Lam, the UNHCR’s deputy regional representative in Canberra. | On Wednesday the UNHCR said the humanitarian crisis was human-made and entirely preventable. It was a “damning indictment of a policy meant to avoid Australia’s international obligations”, said Nai Jit Lam, the UNHCR’s deputy regional representative in Canberra. |
| The Australian government has remained resolute in its policy, dismissing criticism and rejecting offers of help, including from New Zealand to take 150 refugees and to separately provide $2.7m to PNG to provide essential services. | The Australian government has remained resolute in its policy, dismissing criticism and rejecting offers of help, including from New Zealand to take 150 refugees and to separately provide $2.7m to PNG to provide essential services. |
| It has also warned New Zealand against making any deals with PNG without Australia, suggesting that would affect diplomatic relations. | It has also warned New Zealand against making any deals with PNG without Australia, suggesting that would affect diplomatic relations. |