Refugees

Police boss issues appeal to refugees at Lombrum

At these camps, they will not miss out on anything, says Commissioner Baki.

“A total of 50 people were peacefully relocated from the Lombrum based Regional Processing Centre to either of the two recently declared immigration centres on Manus Island,” he states.

“Of this number, 36 non-refugees and 13 refugees left voluntarily after being briefed and convinced by PNG Government officials whilst one Kurdish journalist, Behrouz Boochani, was escorted out of the centre by government officials.

PNG police enter Manus asylum centre, Australia confirms

Hundreds of men have refused to leave the Manus Island centre since it was shut down on 31 October, citing fears for their safety.

On Thursday, multiple men inside the centre said that PNG police had given them a one-hour deadline to leave.

Australia said it was a PNG operation.

Under a controversial policy, Australia has detained asylum seekers who arrive by boat in camps on Manus Island and Nauru, a small Pacific nation.

Hillside Haus declared permanent detention site

Minister Petrus Thomas says: “By virtue of the powers conferred by Section 15(1)(b) and (2) of the Migration Act (Chapter 16), and all other powers enabling me, I declare Hillside Haus to be permanent places of detention.”

His declaration comes into effect on and from November 1, 2017.

Meanwhile, a total of 378 refugees still remain at the Manus Regional Processing Centre and refuse to move to the new camps.

The Royal PNG Constabulary reports: “Buses were provided all day to take the remaining 378 refugees to their new centres but they refused.

No attempts by refugees to leave: Police

According to the Royal PNG Constabulary, all buses were provided at the centre to transport them but the refugees refused to leave the MRPC.

The MRPC at Lombrum Naval base has been revoked by the Minister for Immigration and Border Security, Petrus Thomas, as permanent places of immigration detention. The minister has declared in the national gazette the new sites at hillside haus as permanent places for immigration detention.

Woman leader disputes negative portrayal of Manus

Woman leader Lucielle Paru expressed concern over the damaging image being showcased through the Manus asylum seekers situation.

“Within PNG, we know that we are wonderful people. But the way the international people keep stressing that Manus is full of violence and the asylum seekers are unsafe around Lorengau, or anywhere within Manus, is really, really bad,” says Paru.

Paru points out that though the asylum seekers do not have access to food and water at the detention centre, Manus locals have stepped in to help.

Manus issue: UN team gravely concerned

“We urge the governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea to uphold their obligations under international human rights and refugee laws to respect the basic human rights of all persons concerned,” the team says in a statement.

It is reported that UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is monitoring the situation on the ground on Manus Island, and have found that: 

Manus issue: Hundreds to rally in Sydney

Similar rallies are being held in Brisbane and Melbourne as thousands of people stand in solidarity with the refugees.  

According to the Refugee Action Coalition, authorities began removing the perimeter fencing of the detention centre late yesterday afternoon (Thursday 9 Nov), leaving the refugees even more vulnerable.

“Overnight a new notice was distributed in Port Moresby, where over 120 Manus refugees and asylum seekers being held, has made it obvious there are no plans for providing permanent resettlement,” says spokesman Ian Rintoul.  

Alternate Manus facilities comprise food, water: Lawyer

Bradshaw represents the PNG Immigration Minister, Petrus Thomas, in an application that was filed by Kurdish-Iranian journalist, Behrouz Boochani, which went before the Supreme Court today.

He submitted before the court that all services, comprising food, water, electricity, full medical cover and attractive allowance, were available at the other facilities.

“Refugees are offered one-off relocation allowance of K250 when they move from Lombrum to the East Lorengau Transit centre.

Refugee journalist’s application moved

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.

Chaos on Manus Island amid centre’s closure

Lorengau Town residents, led by non-government organisation, Manus Alliance against Human Rights Abuse, today marched with placards to the Manus Provincial Government headquarters, petitioning the Australian Government to free asylum seekers from detention on Manus and take them back to Australia.

Despite the provincial police commander, David Yapu, saying any protest march today regarding the shutdown would be deemed illegal, residents of Lorengau Town fronted at the Manus Provincial Government and handed their petition to Manus Governor Charlie Benjamin.