Refugees currently being held on Manus Island have been told housing infrastructure at the detention facility will be demolished in the coming months, and that they should “consider [their] options” regarding their living situations.
Leaked audio obtained by the ABC captures an official speaking to asylum seekers within the regional processing centre (RPC). The official told the men “everyone will need to move out of RPC before it shuts down.”
Detainees were told “closure of the regional processing centre is an opportunity to get on with your life,” but options are limited: detainees can choose to return to their country of origin, seek temporary accomodation in the East Lorengau centre while they await entry to a third country, or integrate into the Papua New Guinea community.
Those options all present issues for current detainees. Asylum seekers, by definition, are unlikely to return to their country of origin due to the threat of violence or otherwise untenable conditions. The U.S. deal to accept a number of Manus Island detainees is proceeding very slowly, and refugees have also alleged continual mistreatment by members of the community at the East Lorengau centre.
Outspoken refugee Behrouz Boochani says the situation after the announcement is volatile. The Iranian is “sure the refugees will resist and they will have to use force, I think there will be a big riot.”
The PNG government found the centre was illegally operated last year. In April, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the centre would be closed by the end of 2017.
Source: ABC / Sydney Morning Herald.
Photo: Handout / Getty.
