Transcript
DAVID YAPU: If anything happens to them, we as a law enforcement agency will be held responsible, along with the other stakeholders. So that is one of the control mechanisms, that we have in place, to impose a curfew so that we can control their movements, especially my concern is at late hours. The refugees, they must respect the locals, the community, and abide with the PNG laws, because they're foreigners, they're refugees. They will not be in the province (forever). As soon as their papers are in order for them to settle in a third country, they will definitely leave Manus and go to a third country for resettlement. The Australian government has paid them a lot of money as part of compensation for the case they won in Australia, and these people have a lot of money.
JOHNNY BLADES: Are you saying the money that's in circulation from the payout from the court case is adding to some of the social problems (on Manus)?
DY: Yes, they have a lot of money. They're buying vehicles, they're buying bicycles, and some of them are running trade stores, small businesses, because of the money that they have now.
JB: But they've got to get by as well, haven't they, because they might be there for a long time.
DY: Yes, well, we never know, we never know. Our concern is about their safety, because anything can happen if they're involved in other illegal activities. That does not look good to the community.
JB: Some of the refugees are questioning whether the curfew is legal, given the Supreme Court ruling two years ago?
DY: Well, that is something that we are raising with our lawyer, especially governors are looking at that. At least, there must be some control. And if we do not control, we can be expecting more problems from them, and the community would be frustrated.
JB: Is it right that there was a refugee from Sudan who broke the curfew on Sunday which prompted the visit by the Governor (Manus Governor Charlie Benjamin) into the facility?
DY: Yes, and that is something that the lead agency, PNG Immigration, and the security contractor, and the JDA (JDA Wokman, contractor) are looking into. We tried to get the message to the refugees of their movements.
JB: So, was he allowed to just bust in like that?
DY: Well, he's the governor of the province. We have to respect whatever he says. But it has to be within the confines of the law.
