Manus Regional Processing Centre

K25m revenue shortfall for Manus Province

This was revealed by National Planning and Monitoring Minister, Richard Maru, during a visit to the Province last weekend.

According to a statement, Maru led a high level delegation to N’Drahukei on the West Coast of Manus Island for a proposed fisheries industrial hub when he made the announcement.

Proposed refugee site meets stiff resistance

A meeting was convened on Monday between Manus community leaders and the Provincial Government. However, community leaders were disappointed that Manus Governor Charlie Benjamin and Migration officials were not present.

Community leaders in Manus called for the meeting yesterday to air out their grievances regarding a proposed move to have the refugees resettled near Pere Camp, at Ward 1 Lorengau, at a private property belonging to a businessman in Manus.

Manus islanders plead directly with govt

Wep Kanawi, chairman of the Ndrakorkor clan, owners of the Lombrum lands on which the original asylum seekers facility was constructed, lamented that their ongoing calls to stakeholders to become equitably involved in spin off service provider industries have fallen on deaf ears.

And with the Supreme Court ruling to shut down the processing centre, the LOs say this will adversely affect them, especially jobs, business and SME opportunities.

Aust envoy summoned over resettlement deal

In a statement, Minister for Justice & Attorney General, Davis Steven, said the objective of the meet was to put before the Australian Government PNG’s position that the existing Regional Resettlement Arrangement (RRA) for asylum seekers is current, effective and binding for both the Australian Government and PNG Government.

“Secondly, reference to the 31st October 2017 as the date of closure of the Manus Regional Processing Centre is not correct. That date has not been agreed to by the Government of this sovereign nation,” said Minister Steven.

Soldiers rampaged through detention centre: Police

In a statement, the Royal PNG Constabulary said soldiers fired several shots into the air and indiscriminately assaulted policemen, PNG Immigration officers, other service providers and asylum seekers.

The incident occurred on Friday, April 14, at about 6.30pm at the Manus Regional Processing Centre.

Manus provincial police commander, Senior Inspector David Lapu, said a group of drunken soldiers, in retaliation for one of their colleagues, who was allegedly assaulted by an asylum seeker, entered the centre, shouting and throwing objects at the asylum seekers.

Investigation into Lombrum shootout starts

The incident involved soldiers and asylum seekers from the Manus Regional Processing Centre.

Police and the commanding officer of the Naval Base HMPNGS Tarangau have commenced preliminary investigations, with the assistance of the management of the processing centre.

On Friday, 14 April, around 6:30pm, a group of soldiers retaliated at the Centre following the assault of a fellow officer, allegedly by the asylum seekers.

Stones were allegedly thrown into the compound. Shots were also fired however, no one was hurt by them.

Court to rule on stay application by non-genuine refugees

These men are asking the court to put a stay against their deportation following notices that were issued to them last month.

The application seeking interim orders was moved in court before a three-man Supreme Court bench on Thursday this week.   

The 166 men were processed and found to be non-genuine refugees.

They are asking the high court to stop their deportation pending the substantive case which they filed seeking compensation for their illegal detention since 2013 based on the April 26, 2016 Supreme Court decision in the Namah case.

Send these asylum seekers away: Polye

Opposition Leader Don Polye is calling on the National Government to send these asylum seekers to other countries.

Polye said this must be decided immediately by the Australia and Papua New Guinea governments.

“There are many reports coming out of this centre that continue to destroy PNG’s international reputation,” stated Polye.

“The centre is not properly facilitated and the exercise of processing the asylum seekers is getting too slow.

MP slams Refugee Coalition report

According to the report, the two refugees were outside of the refugee processing centre in a settlement at Lorengau, Manus. They were only out to join New Year celebrations.

Knight said the fellows that were arrested are persons of interest in a drug ring on site. They were allegedly harassing women and blocking traffic, as well as acting very violent.

Knight said he stopped the public from retaliating and called police.

“Police advised immigration and two officers went to try and take them back to Lombrum. They were assaulted,” claimed the Manus MP.

Progress made in processing Manus asylum centre closure

This is to comply with the PNG Supreme Court ruling of April 26, 2016, that the centre was unconstitutional.

According to PNG Industry News O’Neill met with Turnbull and Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton, this week to discuss the closing of the centre.

“Further technical consultations will take place at the start of 2017 to move to the next level of this process. Our co-operation on this policy has saved countless lives of children, women and men who would otherwise have attempted to cross the Indian Ocean in unsafe boats,” said O’Neill.