PNG Government produces statement on resettlement in court

A statement from Deputy Chief Migration Officer for Refugee Division, Esther Gaegaming, has been given to the court today following a request made by the Supreme Court last Monday.

The Supreme Court inquiry into orders of April 26 returned today in court where Ian Molloy, the lawyer representing Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Rimbink Pato, as well as the Chief Migration officer Mataio Rabura, produced the statement before Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia.

This statement was produced on behalf of the PNG Government. What the court now needs is a statement from a representative from the Australian Government.

Parties in the case were asked to confer and assist the court with a representative from the Australian Government who can update the court on administrative steps it is taking in adhering to orders of the court in April.  

Despite the Australian Government not being a party to the case filed by former opposition leader Belden Namah in 2013, Sir Samalo said order number six of April 26 also applies to the Australian Government.

That Order was to have both PNG and Australian governments take necessary steps to cease the unconstitutional and illegal detention of asylum seekers on Manus Island.

Parties will now confer amongst themselves and identify that officer before a formal request is issued by the court to have the officer present a statement in relation to resettlement of the refugees.

The matter will return this Thursday, Aug 4.

Last Monday, the details of five identified refugees from the Regional Processing Centre in Manus were given to the court to undergo test case of resettlement in PNG.

All five in their statements said they did not want to undergo resettlement in PNG.

The test case is purposely to ascertain reasons why the refugees do not want to resettle in the country, issues which the court will identify during the discussion stage of this inquiry.

Those identified to undergo the resettlement test case exercise are from different countries.

(Loop file picture of Ben Lomai, human rights lawyer representing residents in the Manus Regional Processing centre.)

Author: 
Sally Pokiton