Asylum seekers PNG

The joint operation, code named Klinim Base, was successfully accomplished on Friday (Nov 24) with the mass removal of over 300 refugees.

It was conducted by the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority, Police and PNG Defence Force.

Manus provincial police commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said 12 buses and 4 trucks provided by Paladi Security were utilised to transport the refugees to their new locations at East Lorengau Refugee transit centre, Hill side and West Lorengau at Ward 1.

The Grand Chief said it is with sadness that he watched two countries play football with the lives of refugees on Manus Island.

The founding father of the nation has come out in statement to say that acts of violence have been perpetrated with impunity and worse still, lives have been lost.

Grand Chief Somare said he had raised this issue of inhumane treatment while in parliament and was accused of being party to the Australia/PNG plan to set up the Manus Regional Processing Centre.

PNG Immigrations has lined up buses outside the detention centre, patiently waiting for the refugees to transfer them to the new location in Lorengau.

But according to Manus provincial police commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, who is currently on site, the asylum seekers are still inside the camp and are refusing to hop on the buses, protesting over their security at the new sites in Lorengau.

Yapu confirmed that despite their refusal to move out, water, electricity and food supply to the camp has ceased since 5pm yesterday, which was the deadline.