This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/06/manus-island-block-rape-dungeon-claim
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Manus Island block a 'rape dungeon', Salvation Army worker tells inquiry | Manus Island block a 'rape dungeon', Salvation Army worker tells inquiry |
| (4 months later) | |
| Part of Manus Island detention centre was known as a “rape dungeon” to some guards, a former Salvation Army worker has alleged. In a submission to the Manus Island parliamentary inquiry, Nicole Judge said concerns she raised about possible sexual assaults in another part of the camp were ignored. | |
| Other submissions make allegations of inadequate medical care, poor workplace safety and fears of violent attacks from local staff. | Other submissions make allegations of inadequate medical care, poor workplace safety and fears of violent attacks from local staff. |
| “I have heard P1 block in foxtrot being referred to by G4S guards as a ‘rape dungeon’,” Judge’s submission said. “I have been told never to enter this building due to heightened sexual activity in this particular building.” | “I have heard P1 block in foxtrot being referred to by G4S guards as a ‘rape dungeon’,” Judge’s submission said. “I have been told never to enter this building due to heightened sexual activity in this particular building.” |
| Judge said she reported the sexual assault claims to her Salvation Army case management team leader. | Judge said she reported the sexual assault claims to her Salvation Army case management team leader. |
| “I pointed out both transferees to this team leader; this particular team leader stated to me that because these transferees were Muslim and actively engaging in prayer that any sexual activity would have been consensual,” her submission said. “No follow-up occurred.” | “I pointed out both transferees to this team leader; this particular team leader stated to me that because these transferees were Muslim and actively engaging in prayer that any sexual activity would have been consensual,” her submission said. “No follow-up occurred.” |
| Judge said some G4S expatriate officers would act inappropriately and sexually harass her, and that two expatriate guards beat an Iranian asylum seeker “against a wall and a metal bed frame”. | Judge said some G4S expatriate officers would act inappropriately and sexually harass her, and that two expatriate guards beat an Iranian asylum seeker “against a wall and a metal bed frame”. |
| There have now been almost 20 submissions to the Senate inquiry, with a number of former guards, lawyers and case workers delivering scathing assessments of the facility, the policy of offshore processing and the adequacy of management following unrest at the centre that led to the death of Reza Barati and serious injuries for dozens of asylum seekers. | There have now been almost 20 submissions to the Senate inquiry, with a number of former guards, lawyers and case workers delivering scathing assessments of the facility, the policy of offshore processing and the adequacy of management following unrest at the centre that led to the death of Reza Barati and serious injuries for dozens of asylum seekers. |
| Elizabeth Thompson, a former migration agent who spoke out to SBS Dateline about the facility, said her efforts to represent her clients were significantly hampered during her time at the centre, and called for its closure. | Elizabeth Thompson, a former migration agent who spoke out to SBS Dateline about the facility, said her efforts to represent her clients were significantly hampered during her time at the centre, and called for its closure. |
| “MIRPC must be closed down and its inhabitants transferred to the Australian mainland. DIBP has created such an environment of hostility to the transferees on MIRPC that there is no prospect of safe resettlement,“ she wrote in her submission. | “MIRPC must be closed down and its inhabitants transferred to the Australian mainland. DIBP has created such an environment of hostility to the transferees on MIRPC that there is no prospect of safe resettlement,“ she wrote in her submission. |
| She said a document that appeared to be a Papua New Guinea government document was drafted by an employee of the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection. | She said a document that appeared to be a Papua New Guinea government document was drafted by an employee of the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection. |
| Thompson said an unaccompanied 17-year-old had documents proving his identity at the time he was on the island, and that staff members from IHMS and the Salvation Army had expressed concern the boy had been sexually assaulted on the island. | Thompson said an unaccompanied 17-year-old had documents proving his identity at the time he was on the island, and that staff members from IHMS and the Salvation Army had expressed concern the boy had been sexually assaulted on the island. |
| “During our interview he became very distressed and had to seek medical assistance,” she wrote. | “During our interview he became very distressed and had to seek medical assistance,” she wrote. |
| Steve Kilburn, who spoke out on a Four Corners program last week, said in his submission he was given two boxes of Panadol and told to “go out as required” to assist with serious injuries sustained during the unrest including broken bones and eye injuries. | Steve Kilburn, who spoke out on a Four Corners program last week, said in his submission he was given two boxes of Panadol and told to “go out as required” to assist with serious injuries sustained during the unrest including broken bones and eye injuries. |
| Poor workplace health and safety, inadequate toilet facilities and dangerous fumes from mosquito fogging that led to one asylum seeker with asthma collapsing were all raised as concerns by Kilburn, although he stressed that he believed G4S management and expatriate G4S staff acted appropriately. | Poor workplace health and safety, inadequate toilet facilities and dangerous fumes from mosquito fogging that led to one asylum seeker with asthma collapsing were all raised as concerns by Kilburn, although he stressed that he believed G4S management and expatriate G4S staff acted appropriately. |
| Kilburn reiterated his concerns about racism at the centre, and said many Papua New Guinea guards “told me in personal conversation that they resented the Muslims and that they felt that it was offensive to their Christian religion to have them on the Island”. | Kilburn reiterated his concerns about racism at the centre, and said many Papua New Guinea guards “told me in personal conversation that they resented the Muslims and that they felt that it was offensive to their Christian religion to have them on the Island”. |
| Martin Appleby, a whistleblower who told Guardian Australia a visit from the immigration minister, Scott Morrison, caused tensions to soar at the centre, has also made a submission to the inquiry and said he wished to provide the committee with more information in the public hearings. | Martin Appleby, a whistleblower who told Guardian Australia a visit from the immigration minister, Scott Morrison, caused tensions to soar at the centre, has also made a submission to the inquiry and said he wished to provide the committee with more information in the public hearings. |
| “I believe that the insufficient training package, the lack of post orders and procedure delivered to both the expats and PNG nationals played a significant part in to the riots that were reported to have taken place.” | “I believe that the insufficient training package, the lack of post orders and procedure delivered to both the expats and PNG nationals played a significant part in to the riots that were reported to have taken place.” |
| G4S has said it is preparing its own submission to the inquiry and will address some of the issues raised about its staff there. | G4S has said it is preparing its own submission to the inquiry and will address some of the issues raised about its staff there. |
| The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia, Human Rights Law Centre, Australian Lawyers Alliance and Immigration Advice and Rights Centre have also made submissions raising their concerns about the state of the centre. | The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia, Human Rights Law Centre, Australian Lawyers Alliance and Immigration Advice and Rights Centre have also made submissions raising their concerns about the state of the centre. |
| • On 7 May 2014 this article was amended to remove a link to an unrelated article about unaccompanied minors on Manus Island. | • On 7 May 2014 this article was amended to remove a link to an unrelated article about unaccompanied minors on Manus Island. |