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Manus rape claims: former case manager says she is 'truly disgusted' Manus rape claims: former case manager says she is 'truly disgusted'
(about 1 hour later)
The former case manager of an asylum seeker who was allegedly raped on Manus Island has expressed outrage at reports of the alleged rape of another detainee at the Australian-run camp, which she says come after the Department of Immigration and Manus Island service providers turned a blind eye to previous incidents of sexual abuse.The former case manager of an asylum seeker who was allegedly raped on Manus Island has expressed outrage at reports of the alleged rape of another detainee at the Australian-run camp, which she says come after the Department of Immigration and Manus Island service providers turned a blind eye to previous incidents of sexual abuse.
Last week Guardian Australia revealed that Papua New Guinea police were investigating claims that two detainees had raped a young male asylum seeker at the camp.Last week Guardian Australia revealed that Papua New Guinea police were investigating claims that two detainees had raped a young male asylum seeker at the camp.
The case manager, who did not want to be named, worked as a Salvation Army employee with the 19-year-old asylum seeker known as Mr A in March and April this year soon after he had been allegedly raped by fellow detainees at the centre.The case manager, who did not want to be named, worked as a Salvation Army employee with the 19-year-old asylum seeker known as Mr A in March and April this year soon after he had been allegedly raped by fellow detainees at the centre.
“If we didn't turn a blind eye the first time perhaps we wouldn't be responsible for yet another rape victim in Australia's name,” she told Guardian Australia this week. “If the same thing were happening on the mainland we wouldn’t put up with it. I am truly disgusted.”“If we didn't turn a blind eye the first time perhaps we wouldn't be responsible for yet another rape victim in Australia's name,” she told Guardian Australia this week. “If the same thing were happening on the mainland we wouldn’t put up with it. I am truly disgusted.”
Mr A’s case came to light when former G4S employee Rod St George blew the whistle to SBS Dateline in a report aired on 23 July. St George told SBS that he and other staff had been repeatedly pressured by Immigration Department officials to return the victim to the same compound as his abusers, where he could be raped again.Mr A’s case came to light when former G4S employee Rod St George blew the whistle to SBS Dateline in a report aired on 23 July. St George told SBS that he and other staff had been repeatedly pressured by Immigration Department officials to return the victim to the same compound as his abusers, where he could be raped again.
According to the former case manager, soon after the victim was transferred back into the area known as the single adult male (Sam) compound, that is exactly what happened.According to the former case manager, soon after the victim was transferred back into the area known as the single adult male (Sam) compound, that is exactly what happened.
She told Guardian Australia that Mr A’s initial abuse had been discussed at a meeting attended by representatives of G4S, International Health and Medical Services (IHMS), the Salvation Army and the Department of Immigration, where it was decided, at the urging of the department officials present, that he would be moved back to Sam but put on “high imminent watch”.She told Guardian Australia that Mr A’s initial abuse had been discussed at a meeting attended by representatives of G4S, International Health and Medical Services (IHMS), the Salvation Army and the Department of Immigration, where it was decided, at the urging of the department officials present, that he would be moved back to Sam but put on “high imminent watch”.
“Basically what that means is there would be one security guard that would be watching him, and going wherever he goes,” she said.“Basically what that means is there would be one security guard that would be watching him, and going wherever he goes,” she said.
But the next day he was raped again in the male toilet block at the compound, she said. She continues to question how this could have happened in broad daylight while he was supposed to be under supervision.But the next day he was raped again in the male toilet block at the compound, she said. She continues to question how this could have happened in broad daylight while he was supposed to be under supervision.
“The guard said that he had walked around the toilet block [while Mr A went inside],” she said. “The toilet block is not huge – it’s two shipping containers – so I don’t how long that walk was, and I continue to question that walk.” “The guard said that he had walked around the toilet block [while Mr A went inside],” she said. “The toilet block is not huge – it’s two shipping containers – so I don’t know how long that walk was, and I continue to question that walk.”
Soon after, the victim was taken into the care of IHMS, which is contracted to provide healthcare at the camp, because there was no other safe area for him. He spent three weeks in one of the IHMS patient rooms, according to the former case manager, during which time he was only able to go outside under escort at night.Soon after, the victim was taken into the care of IHMS, which is contracted to provide healthcare at the camp, because there was no other safe area for him. He spent three weeks in one of the IHMS patient rooms, according to the former case manager, during which time he was only able to go outside under escort at night.
A review of sexual assault allegations at the camp, commissioned by the Department of Immigration after details of Mr A’s case emerged, stated that staff “appear to this review to have responded appropriately to the various issues and incidents noted in this report, given the limitations they faced”.A review of sexual assault allegations at the camp, commissioned by the Department of Immigration after details of Mr A’s case emerged, stated that staff “appear to this review to have responded appropriately to the various issues and incidents noted in this report, given the limitations they faced”.
The case manager said she did not understand how it arrived at this conclusion after what she told the review.The case manager said she did not understand how it arrived at this conclusion after what she told the review.
She says even before the SBS report went to air she had tried to alert her boss at the Salvation Army to the abuse, because she felt staff at the centre were not doing all they could to prevent it from happening again.She says even before the SBS report went to air she had tried to alert her boss at the Salvation Army to the abuse, because she felt staff at the centre were not doing all they could to prevent it from happening again.
“I tried to talk to her because I thought, ‘I’m not going to go the media, I want the Salvation Army to fix this’ – because they could if they really tried,” she said.“I tried to talk to her because I thought, ‘I’m not going to go the media, I want the Salvation Army to fix this’ – because they could if they really tried,” she said.
According to the case manager, her boss was dismissive and said: “What do you want me to do about it?”According to the case manager, her boss was dismissive and said: “What do you want me to do about it?”
The Salvation Army told Guardian Australia that the boss denied “ever being dismissive or having discussed the mistreatment incident with [the case manager] as alleged”.The Salvation Army told Guardian Australia that the boss denied “ever being dismissive or having discussed the mistreatment incident with [the case manager] as alleged”.
“The Salvation Army remains fierce advocates for the people in our care and have always endeavoured to protect their wellbeing and safety,” the spokesperson said.“The Salvation Army remains fierce advocates for the people in our care and have always endeavoured to protect their wellbeing and safety,” the spokesperson said.
The case manager said the conversation with her boss took place in May – some time after the PNG police had tried, and failed, to deal with the case.The case manager said the conversation with her boss took place in May – some time after the PNG police had tried, and failed, to deal with the case.
The review found Mr A had declined to give testimony to PNG police, who visited the centre to interview him about the alleged rapes. But both the case manager and St George had testified that the young man was told by police that homosexual activity, even without consent, was illegal in PNG and he faced 14 years in prison for reporting it.The review found Mr A had declined to give testimony to PNG police, who visited the centre to interview him about the alleged rapes. But both the case manager and St George had testified that the young man was told by police that homosexual activity, even without consent, was illegal in PNG and he faced 14 years in prison for reporting it.
On the day the police arrived to interview Mr A about the abuse, the case manager says the detainee, who had a fear of authority after suffering persecution in his home country, was not warned they were coming nor allowed a support person to sit in on the interview.On the day the police arrived to interview Mr A about the abuse, the case manager says the detainee, who had a fear of authority after suffering persecution in his home country, was not warned they were coming nor allowed a support person to sit in on the interview.
“The head of security and two police officers just barged into his room, he freaked out, and he turned around and said ‘nothing happened’. They drop the charges there and then because he is not willing to talk, and the police leave,” she said.“The head of security and two police officers just barged into his room, he freaked out, and he turned around and said ‘nothing happened’. They drop the charges there and then because he is not willing to talk, and the police leave,” she said.
“We didn’t give him an opportunity to talk at all – and no management took responsibility for what happened that afternoon.”“We didn’t give him an opportunity to talk at all – and no management took responsibility for what happened that afternoon.”
In August, the case manager was shocked to discover Mr A had been released into the Australian community on a bridging visa.In August, the case manager was shocked to discover Mr A had been released into the Australian community on a bridging visa.
At the time she worked with the detainee, she said she was repeatedly told by Department of Immigration staff that the rape victim could not be flown to Australia for counselling because the PNG government wouldn’t allow it, following a riot at the centre.At the time she worked with the detainee, she said she was repeatedly told by Department of Immigration staff that the rape victim could not be flown to Australia for counselling because the PNG government wouldn’t allow it, following a riot at the centre.
She said she had been left with many questions about his treatment throughout the ordeal.She said she had been left with many questions about his treatment throughout the ordeal.
“If he’s eligible for a bridging visa then why did he have to go through that? I’m just finding it quite difficult to understand,” she said.“If he’s eligible for a bridging visa then why did he have to go through that? I’m just finding it quite difficult to understand,” she said.
“How does someone who is supposedly subject to offshore processing get a bridging visa in Australia when they are supposed to be waiting for a settlement country, only after they are [assessed] as a refugee?”“How does someone who is supposedly subject to offshore processing get a bridging visa in Australia when they are supposed to be waiting for a settlement country, only after they are [assessed] as a refugee?”
She told Guardian Australia she was relieved that Mr A was no longer in detention, but that she had often asked herself: “At what cost?”She told Guardian Australia she was relieved that Mr A was no longer in detention, but that she had often asked herself: “At what cost?”
The review made six recommendations, including that a separate area for vulnerable detainees be established at the Manus Island centre, that the department implement a clear policy for dealing with sexual assault, and that it consider ways to make the centre more open.The review made six recommendations, including that a separate area for vulnerable detainees be established at the Manus Island centre, that the department implement a clear policy for dealing with sexual assault, and that it consider ways to make the centre more open.
The review was commissioned under the former immigration minister Tony Burke and the full report was presented to the Department of Immigration. Both Burke and the department declined to comment on its findings.The review was commissioned under the former immigration minister Tony Burke and the full report was presented to the Department of Immigration. Both Burke and the department declined to comment on its findings.
The current minister for immigration, Scott Morrison, declined to say whether the recommendations had or would be implemented. A spokesperson for the minister pointed out that the review was initiated by the previous government. “The government has noted the report’s findings and recommendations,” the spokesperson said.The current minister for immigration, Scott Morrison, declined to say whether the recommendations had or would be implemented. A spokesperson for the minister pointed out that the review was initiated by the previous government. “The government has noted the report’s findings and recommendations,” the spokesperson said.
The opposition spokesperson for immigration, Richard Marles, said: “It is imperative that the government take all steps necessary to ensure the safety of people on Manus Island.”The opposition spokesperson for immigration, Richard Marles, said: “It is imperative that the government take all steps necessary to ensure the safety of people on Manus Island.”
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