Manus Island detainees moved to Port Moresby
Agrowing number of detainees is being transferred from Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island to Port Moresby with the understanding they will not be returning to the detention centre.
The Australian-run facility is due to close by the end of October but the PNG government is worried it will be left to care for about 800 men still there.
The Kurdish journalist and detainee Behrouz Boochani said about 60 men were transferred to Port Moresby earlier this month and that another 30 would be moved today.
He said the men had been told they were being transferred for medical treatment, but not all of them were sick.
“And I have some information from a reliable source that they will transfer about 60 [more] refugees next week and leave them without any protection,” said Mr Boochani. “They want to continue this political game in PNG cities.”
Ben Lomai, a Port Moresby lawyer representing detainees, said he was afraid the men were being dumped in the PNG capital. “As I understand, once they are here in Port Moresby they won’t be able to return back to Manus, and after three weeks they will not be able to get financial assistance from the Australian government anymore,” said Mr Lomai.
“So that’s put a lot of pressure on them as to how they are going to survive in the city, especially as Port Moresby is very expensive” Mr Lomai said businesses in Port Moresby had been asked to find work for the men as the PNG government was not in a position to support them.
“PNG is incapable, we still have debts to pay, how are we going to maintain all of these asylum seekers and refugees here?” asked Mr Lomai.
“So we’ve got a problem on our hands, that’s why they’re looking for employment opportunities. That is because they are trying to ask them to stay back in the country to work and fend for themselves. But as you know, none of the asylum seekers want to stay in PNG.”