Manus Detention Centre

They were the second lot of refugees on Manus under the refugee resettlement arrangement with Australia, who left for the United States. The first 25 refugees departed PNG last September.

Minister for Immigration and Border Security, Petrus Thomas, thanked the United States Government for supporting Papua New Guinea and Australia to resettle refugees who were processed under the regional resettlement arrangement.

About 60 asylum seekers and guards came to blows in the running battle, as the governments of PNG and Australia met in Port Moresby to discuss refugee resettlement.

The application for an urgent injunction was filed with the High Court on Wednesday by human rights barrister Jay Williams. 

It follows last week's decision in the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court which ruled that the Manus Island detention centre breached the country's constitution. 

The group of 757 asylum seekers is also seeking an order from the court preventing the Australian Government from moving them to Nauru. 

General Secretary of the CBC, Fr.Victor Roche said the Catholic Church has always maintained that the arrangement to bring people seeking refugee status in Australia to PNG and to detain them on the island was unjust, inhumane and unlawful.

“These people have human rights and dignity that have to be considered, just as every other person living in PNG, “said Roche.

However, Roche added that it is imperative that the two governments respect and honour their obligations to uphold the laws and to accord full rights to people in accordance with the law.

Last week, the Supreme Court declared the detention on Australia's behalf of asylum seekers on Manus Island unconstitutional, and the government later announced that the centre would close.

Ben Lomai - who represented many of those detained on Manus Island - said he would be seeking to make the Commonwealth of Australia a defendant in the asylum seekers' challenge to their detention.

He said that if successful, and if the Supreme Court ruled in their favour, they would have to be released back into Australia's care as their first port of entry.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill also noted that the closure of the centre will have a negative effect on the local economy on Manus, and the Government will work with Australia to seek to minimise damage to businesses and workers.

“I have considered the ruling of the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea and welcome this outcome,” Prime Minister O’Neill said.

“Respecting this ruling, Papua New Guinea will immediately ask the Australian Government to make alternative arrangements for the asylum seekers currently held at the Regional Processing Centre.