Refugees and non-genuine refugees at Lombrum, who are refusing to be moved to East Lorengau, will know by 9:30 tomorrow if the Supreme Court will grant their application, seeking restoration of services.
Principal applicant, Kurdish-Iranian journalist Behrouz Boochani, filed the application on behalf of others also at Lombrum.
It has been one week since the cease of services at Lombrum.
Their lawyer, Ben Lomai, went before the Supreme Court today with an application seeking enforcement of human rights under the PNG constitution.
Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia heard the application seeking interim orders, and will give a ruling tomorrow.
Despite the facility, formerly being run by Australia, only the PNG Immigration Minister was represented in the case today.
This was because the PNG courts have no jurisdiction over the Australian Federal Government activities in PNG.
Boochani is seeking orders of the court to restore all services, which includes food, water, electricity and medical care at Lombrum.
They are also seeking orders to prevent their transfer to East Lorengau or any other facility against their will.
An order restraining members of the PNG Defence Force taking over the former detention centre, which is in an active naval base, is also being sought in court.
Food aid from locals on the island were also prevented from being given to those at Lombrum.
PNG Immigration Minister Petrus Thomas’ lawyer submitted in court today that all those services, including attractive allowance, are available at the East Lorengau and Hillside Transit centre but it was up to the refugees to take up.
While services remain ceased in Lombrum, Manus continues to be described by the refugees as a living hell-hole, limiting the potential of tourism in the province as it is caught up in Australia’s offshore regional processing policy.
(Ben Lomai outside the courthouse today)