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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 |
| (2 months later) | |
| • Journalist and refugee Behrouz Boochani arrested as squad steps in • Refugees report they have been told to hand over phones and go within hours | |
| Helen Davidson and | |
| Ben Doherty | |
| Thu 23 Nov 2017 02.26 GMT | |
| First published on Wed 22 Nov 2017 23.00 GMT | |
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| Papua New Guinea police have removed dozens of asylum seekers from the Manus Island detention centre and put pressure on hundreds of others to leave, more than three weeks after the camp was decommissioned. | Papua New Guinea police have removed dozens of asylum seekers from the Manus Island detention centre and put pressure on hundreds of others to leave, more than three weeks after the camp was decommissioned. |
| Refugees inside the centre reported large numbers of officers, including the paramilitary police mobile squad, entered the centre on Thursday and gave them an hour to move to alternative accommodation in the nearby town of Lorengau. The officers shouted at detainees and demanded they hand over their phones. | Refugees inside the centre reported large numbers of officers, including the paramilitary police mobile squad, entered the centre on Thursday and gave them an hour to move to alternative accommodation in the nearby town of Lorengau. The officers shouted at detainees and demanded they hand over their 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. |
| Water, power and food supplies ended when the Manus camp was officially closed on 31 October, based on the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court’s ruling last year that Australia’s policy of housing asylum seekers there was unconstitutional. | Water, power and food supplies ended when the Manus camp was officially closed on 31 October, based on the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court’s ruling last year that Australia’s policy of housing asylum seekers there was unconstitutional. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Amnesty International cited reports of immigration officials entering them camp armed with sticks and knives. | Amnesty International cited reports of immigration officials entering them camp armed with sticks and knives. |
| “The risks of serious injury if the authorities use force now is completely foreseeable,” researcher Kate Schuetze said in a statement. | “The risks of serious injury if the authorities use force now is completely foreseeable,” researcher Kate Schuetze said in a statement. |
| 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 there was no assistance. “We don’t know if he had a heart attack because he had previously problems,” Zazai said of one. | 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 there was 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 epilepsy, he said. | The second unconscious man had epilepsy, he said. |
| https://t.co/BEa5yhYZXV | https://t.co/BEa5yhYZXV |
| We need urgent help any Dr of nurses we have one refugee in very bad conditions pic.twitter.com/voXXtSQUYI | We need urgent help any Dr of nurses we have one refugee in very bad conditions pic.twitter.com/voXXtSQUYI |
| Iranian journalist and refugee Behrouz Boochani was arrested as police and immigration officials swept through the camp, destroying furniture, property and food. | Iranian journalist and refugee Behrouz Boochani was arrested as police and immigration officials swept through the camp, destroying furniture, property and food. |
| Footage shows Boochani being led away, held by two uniformed policemen, and surrounded by several others. He does not physically resist. | Footage shows Boochani being led away, held by two uniformed policemen, and surrounded by several others. He does not physically resist. |
| Other refugees said police were specifically looking for him. | Other refugees said police were specifically looking for him. |
| Boochani has been the most outspoken advocate for the refugees held on Manus Island, filing reports regularly for the Guardian and other news outlets and giving interviews with media across the world. | Boochani has been the most outspoken advocate for the refugees held on Manus Island, filing reports regularly for the Guardian and other news outlets and giving interviews with media across the world. |
| They are looking for me and Behrouz they found him but they are not going to find me. These are police are taking Behrouz. pic.twitter.com/G01bA46ETC | They are looking for me and Behrouz they found him but they are not going to find me. These are police are taking Behrouz. pic.twitter.com/G01bA46ETC |
| Police Commissioner Gari Baki said 50 police and immigration officials entered the Manus Island camp on Thursday morning and “peacefully relocated” 50 asylum seekers among the 378 men to Lorengau. Baki said in a statement all had “left voluntarily,” except for Boochan, who he said was neither arrested nor charged. | Police Commissioner Gari Baki said 50 police and immigration officials entered the Manus Island camp on Thursday morning and “peacefully relocated” 50 asylum seekers among the 378 men to Lorengau. Baki said in a statement all had “left voluntarily,” except for Boochan, who he said was neither arrested nor charged. |
| Australia’s immigration minister, Peter Dutton, confirmed a “police operation” on Thursday morning but accused detainees of trashing it the old centre. | Australia’s immigration minister, Peter Dutton, confirmed a “police operation” on Thursday morning but accused detainees of trashing it the old centre. |
| “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 who refuse to move in. | He likened the situation to building a new house for tenants who refuse to move in. |
| Dutton’s repeated claims that the alternative accommodation units are ready and suitable for detainees have been consistently 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 the new housing in Lorengau, citing frequent violent attacks and a lack of security. | Dutton’s repeated claims that the alternative accommodation units are ready and suitable for detainees have been consistently 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 the new housing in Lorengau, citing frequent violent attacks and a lack of security. |
| Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, repeated the messages of his immigration minister, and said the refugees should leave the centre and go to the alternative accommodation where “several hundred” had already moved. | Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, repeated the messages of his immigration minister, and said the refugees should leave the centre and go to the alternative accommodation where “several hundred” had already moved. |
| “They should obey the law and the lawful authorities of Papua New Guinea,” said Turnbull. “There are alternative facilities that have been made available with food, water, security, and medical services.” | “They should obey the law and the lawful authorities of Papua New Guinea,” said Turnbull. “There are alternative facilities that have been made available with food, water, security, and medical services.” |
| Turnbull also said those inside the centre were hoping to force the Australian government into bringing them all to Australia. “We will not be pressured,” he said. “Our border security, the integrity of our borders is maintained by my government and we will not outsource our migration policy to people smugglers.” | Turnbull also said those inside the centre were hoping to force the Australian government into bringing them all to Australia. “We will not be pressured,” he said. “Our border security, the integrity of our borders is maintained by my government and we will not outsource our migration policy to people smugglers.” |
| Some refugees have taken shelter on roofs inside the decommissioned detention centre. Some had been sleeping on top of shipping containers, in expectation the police would move in. | Some refugees have taken shelter on roofs 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 |
| The police and immigrations are destroying Australian property pic.twitter.com/QZVuccYjRw | The police and immigrations are destroying Australian property pic.twitter.com/QZVuccYjRw |
| 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 | 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 |
| Before his arrest, Boochani reported from inside the centre that immigration and police started searching rooms and telling people: “Move, move,” and, “You only have an hour to move.” | Before his arrest, Boochani reported from inside the centre that immigration and police started searching rooms and telling people: “Move, move,” and, “You only have an hour to move.” |
| Boochani said some refugees were building barriers to halt police progress, others were hiding. | Boochani said some refugees were building barriers to halt police progress, others were hiding. |
| 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 showed immigration officials in yellow shirts surrounded by uniformed police. It showed one PNG police officer issuing instructions over a megaphone to 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. | Video from the Sudanese refugee Abdul Aziz Adam showed immigration officials in yellow shirts surrounded by uniformed police. It showed one PNG police officer issuing instructions over a megaphone to 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. |
| “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. |
| PNG police had originally planned to launch its “Operation Helpim Friends” on Wednesday, but it was cancelled pending a court appeal, now adjourned to 15 December. The police commissioner, Baki, described the operation as “politely” asking the detainees to leave, and said no force would be used. | PNG police had originally planned to launch its “Operation Helpim Friends” on Wednesday, but it was cancelled pending a court appeal, now adjourned to 15 December. The police commissioner, Baki, described the operation as “politely” asking the detainees to leave, and said no force would be used. |
| An Australian federal police spokesman denied earlier reports its officers were involved. | An Australian federal police spokesman denied earlier reports its officers were involved. |
| 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 |
| The Australian director of Human Rights Watch, Elaine Pearson, said Australia’s reputation was on the line. “Australia is standing idly by as PNG security forces are trashing the compound, confiscating phones, and aggressively telling refugees and asylum seekers they must leave,” she said. | The Australian director of Human Rights Watch, Elaine Pearson, said Australia’s reputation was on the line. “Australia is standing idly by as PNG security forces are trashing the compound, confiscating phones, and aggressively telling refugees and asylum seekers they must leave,” she said. |
| Manus Island | |
| Australian immigration and asylum | |
| Papua New Guinea | |
| Asia Pacific | |
| Peter Dutton | |
| Refugees | |
| news | |
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