Advocate says curfew shows danger for PNG refugees

Transcript

A refugee watchdog says a curfew for refugees on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island is a stark indicator that refugees cannot be safely cared for there.

Refugee Action Coalition's Ian Rintoul says an Iranian refugee, Mohsen, was bashed last week by PNG immigration officers for drinking in a pub during the 6 PM to 6 AM curfew.

He says the officers repeatedly punched and manhandled Mohsen before taking him away.

Mr Rintoul says locals at the pub were supportive of Mohsen but told Leilani Momoisea that tensions have been rising on Manus Island...

Ian Rintoul : The curfew I think is an indicator of what has always conerned us and concerns still around a couple of hundred people inside the detention centre who have found to be refugees but refuse to go to the East Lorengau accomodation. People are still very worried about their vulnerability to attacks by locals, particularly on those detainees who witnessed the assault on Reza Berati from February last year. Those people remain very fearful that their lives will be in danger outside of the detention centre. I think it is telling that even the PNG authorities believe a curfew is necessary to keep the refugees safe on Manus island. It's very stark indicator I think of what we have said all along, that the detainees, the people who are being sent be Australia to Manus Island cannot be safely cared for. Inside the detention centre, or outside of the detention centre.

Leilani Momoisea : Mohsen being beaten for staying out past his curfew doesn't help matters at all in terms of that perception of safety as well I suppose.

Ian Rintoul : Precisely. These people are vulnerable to the attacks from the locals for the reasons I've gone over, but it's also clear that they're not safe from the assaults from the PNG authorities themselves. I think overriding that, is the fact that the O'Neill government, in spite of what's two years, has not put a resettlement arrangement in place. The O'Neill government has not got any political will to establish any secure, durable, resettlement arrangement on Papua New Guinea. So the asylum seekers should be brought from Manus Island, Manus Island has now got a terrible history. The asylum seekers should be brought from Manus Island to Australia where they can be settled in the community, properly processed, properly cared for, and have a safe life."