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| Manus Island: 'agitated' asylum seekers escape from detention centre | Manus Island: 'agitated' asylum seekers escape from detention centre |
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| The immigration minister says dozens of asylum seekers escaped from the Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea on Sunday evening after they became agitated during a meeting about their future resettlement prospects. | The immigration minister says dozens of asylum seekers escaped from the Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea on Sunday evening after they became agitated during a meeting about their future resettlement prospects. |
| Approximately 35 people broke out of the centre at about 6.15pm but were caught and returned, Scott Morrison said. | Approximately 35 people broke out of the centre at about 6.15pm but were caught and returned, Scott Morrison said. |
| Detainees became “agitated” and began chanting during the meeting, Morrison told media on Monday afternoon. Non-essential staff were evacuated after the situation escalated, and detainees damaged some light stands, glass panels, fences and bunk beds. | Detainees became “agitated” and began chanting during the meeting, Morrison told media on Monday afternoon. Non-essential staff were evacuated after the situation escalated, and detainees damaged some light stands, glass panels, fences and bunk beds. |
| By Monday morning eight detainees had been arrested and 19 had attended a clinic for injuries – none of which were life-threatening, Morrison said. | By Monday morning eight detainees had been arrested and 19 had attended a clinic for injuries – none of which were life-threatening, Morrison said. |
| At the time of Morrison’s press conference, five people remained at the International Health and Medical Services (IHMS) clinic. A number of G4S guards sustained minor injuries. | At the time of Morrison’s press conference, five people remained at the International Health and Medical Services (IHMS) clinic. A number of G4S guards sustained minor injuries. |
| Refugee advocates had reported on Sunday night that protests by detainees had escalated and a number of people had broken out of the facility. On Sunday the Refugee Action Coalition (RAC) said it had received reports the riot squad had been mobilised in response to protests. | Refugee advocates had reported on Sunday night that protests by detainees had escalated and a number of people had broken out of the facility. On Sunday the Refugee Action Coalition (RAC) said it had 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,” it said in a 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,” it said in a statement. |
| Morrison dismissed reports that detainees revolted because they had been told they would not be settled in PNG. “I’m advised that those reports are false. The department understands that during the meeting on February 16 the transferees were advised by the PNG ICSA (Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority) that those found to be refugees would be offered settlement in PNG.” | |
| It was confirmed that a third country option would not be offered and they would be offered no assistance by either PNG or Australia in seeking settlement in a third country. | It was confirmed that a third country option would not be offered and they would be offered no assistance by either PNG or Australia in seeking settlement in a third country. |
| However, Morrison conceded that it was still undecided whether people would live on Manus Island or somewhere else, once given refugee status. | However, Morrison conceded that it was still undecided whether people would live on Manus Island or somewhere else, once given refugee status. |
| “All of those issues are still being worked through with the PNG government,” he said. | “All of those issues are still being worked through with the PNG government,” he said. |
| Processing of claims is believed to have started, but no claims have been finalised yet. | Processing of claims is believed to have started, but no claims have been finalised yet. |
| “The issue of resettlement is a further challenge, that’s why we’ve been moving so quickly to establish that accommodation on Manus that provides a place for people to be accommodated post-assessment if they are found to be refugees,” Morrison said. | “The issue of resettlement is a further challenge, that’s why we’ve been moving so quickly to establish that accommodation on Manus that provides a place for people to be accommodated post-assessment if they are found to be refugees,” Morrison said. |
| The accommodation was not restricted to temporary or short-term housing, he said, adding that people being resettled there was a possibility, “but those details haven’t been confirmed”. | The accommodation was not restricted to temporary or short-term housing, he said, adding that people being resettled there was a possibility, “but those details haven’t been confirmed”. |
| He said the reason it was taking so long to confirm details on the processing and resettling of the approximately 1,300 people on Manus Island was because “the previous government left us with a blank piece of paper.” | He said the reason it was taking so long to confirm details on the processing and resettling of the approximately 1,300 people on Manus Island was because “the previous government left us with a blank piece of paper.” |
| In response, the opposition immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, criticised the secrecy of the government, saying the Manus Island detention centre had had a bigger impact on reducing the number of asylum boats than anything else and Australians need to be confident it was being run properly. | In response, the opposition immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, criticised the secrecy of the government, saying the Manus Island detention centre had had a bigger impact on reducing the number of asylum boats than anything else and Australians need to be confident it was being run properly. |
| “This is now the second serious incident which has occurred at the Manus Island detention facility since the Abbott government came to power,” Marles said in Melbourne. “We need to hear from the government what steps they are going to take to ensure that this kind of incident never happens again.” | “This is now the second serious incident which has occurred at the Manus Island detention facility since the Abbott government came to power,” Marles said in Melbourne. “We need to hear from the government what steps they are going to take to ensure that this kind of incident never happens again.” |
| 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. |
| 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 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 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. |
| Morrison confirmed the deal between Australia and PNG to house and process asylum seekers on Manus Island remained the same as the agreement made by the previous government. | Morrison confirmed the deal between Australia and PNG to house and process asylum seekers on Manus Island remained the same as the agreement made by the previous government. |
| Manus whistleblower Rod St George, who worked as an occupational health and safety officer at the centre in March and April last year, said Sunday’s unrest sounded “almost identical” to a riot that took place on 12 April last year. Back then, he said, detainees had been told that they would soon be informed about their resettlement options, only to have their hopes dashed at a meeting in which immigration officers refused to answer their questions. | Manus whistleblower Rod St George, who worked as an occupational health and safety officer at the centre in March and April last year, said Sunday’s unrest sounded “almost identical” to a riot that took place on 12 April last year. Back then, he said, detainees had been told that they would soon be informed about their resettlement options, only to have their hopes dashed at a meeting in which immigration officers refused to answer their questions. |
| “[In late March] the Immigration Department had said that in the next couple of weeks they would have some answers for the detainees on the progress of their visa applications,” St George said. “These people had already been waiting for five months at that point to know what was happening, so you can imagine the anticipation among the detainees, who are thinking, ‘OK, we’re finally getting somewhere.’” | “[In late March] the Immigration Department had said that in the next couple of weeks they would have some answers for the detainees on the progress of their visa applications,” St George said. “These people had already been waiting for five months at that point to know what was happening, so you can imagine the anticipation among the detainees, who are thinking, ‘OK, we’re finally getting somewhere.’” |
| But at a meeting headed by a PNG immigration official on 10 April, St George said detainees were “basically told nothing – that the process was a very long one, that it’s slow, that the officials in Port Moresby were needing more time”. | But at a meeting headed by a PNG immigration official on 10 April, St George said detainees were “basically told nothing – that the process was a very long one, that it’s slow, that the officials in Port Moresby were needing more time”. |
| St George said the PNG official “spoke as if his talk was completely scripted”. St George said: “When the detainees asked questions he would simply repeat what he had already said. In the end, after about 15 minutes, the detainees all left. This triggered hunger strikes among the detainees – they were totally exasperated, it just pushed them over the edge – and two days later they rioted.” | St George said the PNG official “spoke as if his talk was completely scripted”. St George said: “When the detainees asked questions he would simply repeat what he had already said. In the end, after about 15 minutes, the detainees all left. This triggered hunger strikes among the detainees – they were totally exasperated, it just pushed them over the edge – and two days later they rioted.” |
| St George said several detainees subsequently scaled the fence and escaped from the compound, while dozens of others became violent and destroyed common areas within the centre. | St George said several detainees subsequently scaled the fence and escaped from the compound, while dozens of others became violent and destroyed common areas within the centre. |
| “Yesterday’s incident sounds almost identical,” he said, “but worse, because it sounds like they’re being told that they’re not going to settle anywhere.” | “Yesterday’s incident sounds almost identical,” he said, “but worse, because it sounds like they’re being told that they’re not going to settle anywhere.” |