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| Manus Island: detainees arrested amid conflicting reports of unrest | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Seven asylum seekers held in the Manus Island detention centre have been arrested over a fight, a Papua New Guinea MP has said, dismissing reports of a mass breakout at the centre. | Seven asylum seekers held in the Manus Island detention centre have been arrested over a fight, a Papua New Guinea MP has said, dismissing reports of a mass breakout at the centre. |
| Refugee advocates reported on Sunday night that protests by detainees had escalated and a number of people had broken out of the facility. | Refugee advocates reported on Sunday night that protests by detainees had escalated and a number of people had broken out of the facility. |
| However a local MP, Ron Knight, a long-time supporter of the centre and PNG’s deal with Australia to operate it, told Australian Associated Press he had been informed by PNG immigration that the asylum seekers were arrested after a fight, and reports of a breakout are “BS”. | However a local MP, Ron Knight, a long-time supporter of the centre and PNG’s deal with Australia to operate it, told Australian Associated Press he had been informed by PNG immigration that the asylum seekers were arrested after a fight, and reports of a breakout are “BS”. |
| “There was a fight late yesterday afternoon amongst themselves. They have been arrested and will face court this week,” said Knight. | “There was a fight late yesterday afternoon amongst themselves. They have been arrested and will face court this week,” said Knight. |
| On Sunday the Refugee Action Coalition (RAC) said they’d received reports the riot squad had been mobilised in response to protests. | On Sunday the Refugee Action Coalition (RAC) said they’d received reports the riot squad had been mobilised in response to protests. |
| “There have been daily protests on Manus Island involving hundreds of asylum seekers since 25 January as frustrations have increased over delays in processing and uncertainty about their future,” said the statement. | “There have been daily protests on Manus Island involving hundreds of asylum seekers since 25 January as frustrations have increased over delays in processing and uncertainty about their future,” said the statement. |
| A local doctor was also told about an incident and was warned to expect people with injuries at the local hospital, the ABC reported, however Dr Otto Numan said no detainees or staff had been brought in. | A local doctor was also told about an incident and was warned to expect people with injuries at the local hospital, the ABC reported, however Dr Otto Numan said no detainees or staff had been brought in. |
| The office of the minister for immigration, Scott Morrison, confirmed on Monday morning “a disturbance” had taken place. | The office of the minister for immigration, Scott Morrison, confirmed on Monday morning “a disturbance” had taken place. |
| Morrison said staff at the centre were accounted for and safe, and that there were reports PNG police had arrested a number of detainees. | Morrison said staff at the centre were accounted for and safe, and that there were reports PNG police had arrested a number of detainees. |
| “Service providers have also reported a number of transferees have received medical attention and that there has been some minor property damage at the centre,” he added. | “Service providers have also reported a number of transferees have received medical attention and that there has been some minor property damage at the centre,” he added. |
| Morrison also dismissed claims the asylum seekers had been told they would not be settled in PNG, saying he’d been advised such claims were “false”. | Morrison also dismissed claims the asylum seekers had been told they would not be settled in PNG, saying he’d been advised such claims were “false”. |
| The RAC said late on Sunday the protest escalated after detainees were told they would not be settled in PNG. However the group issued a correction a short time later, saying detainees had been informed by Immigration Department officials they would not be leaving PNG, and “that if they wanted to go somewhere else other than PNG, they would have to arrange this with other countries themselves”. | The RAC said late on Sunday the protest escalated after detainees were told they would not be settled in PNG. However the group issued a correction a short time later, saying detainees had been informed by Immigration Department officials they would not be leaving PNG, and “that if they wanted to go somewhere else other than PNG, they would have to arrange this with other countries themselves”. |
| PNG will seek help from Australia in deciding whether to resettle refugees in the country, the foreign minister, Rimbink Pato, told parliament last week. Pato said officials had begun processing asylum seekers. However the country does not have a class of visa to cover refugees. | PNG will seek help from Australia in deciding whether to resettle refugees in the country, the foreign minister, Rimbink Pato, told parliament last week. Pato said officials had begun processing asylum seekers. However the country does not have a class of visa to cover refugees. |
| There are about 1300 asylum seekers on Manus Island. | There are about 1300 asylum seekers on Manus Island. |
| Last month the PNG supreme court ruled the constitutionality of the agreement between PNG and Australia to process asylum seekers on Manus Island is open to challenge by the country’s opposition leader. | Last month the PNG supreme court ruled the constitutionality of the agreement between PNG and Australia to process asylum seekers on Manus Island is open to challenge by the country’s opposition leader. |
| The five-judge panel also said asylum seekers should be made aware they were legally allowed to appeal against their detention, querying whether any knew this because none had approached the courts despite the process being made deliberately easy. Guardian Australia understands the delay in processing refugee claims it is at least partly due to a lack of legal aid services, no longer provided by Australia. | The five-judge panel also said asylum seekers should be made aware they were legally allowed to appeal against their detention, querying whether any knew this because none had approached the courts despite the process being made deliberately easy. Guardian Australia understands the delay in processing refugee claims it is at least partly due to a lack of legal aid services, no longer provided by Australia. |
| The court also criticised two PNG authorities which it said should be taking a greater interest in human rights issues at the processing centre. | The court also criticised two PNG authorities which it said should be taking a greater interest in human rights issues at the processing centre. |