Asylum seekers barricade compounds as protests continue at Manus Island detention centre; letter from detainees warns of 'disaster'


Groups of asylum seekers have barricaded two compounds within the Manus Island detention centre and are not allowing staff to enter.

Protesters in the Delta and Oscar compounds of the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre placed boxes in front of gates to keep out security staff and government officials.

"People in Delta compound fear from guards," one asylum seeker said.

They said they were being denied food and water and have sent photos of men burrowing beneath a fence to reach crates of bottled water placed just outside the compound.

A spokesman for Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the Government had been "advised that food and water continue to be available".

"However,  normal services and supplies in certain areas of the centre have been affected by the disruptive behaviour of some transferees.  Normal services are ready to resume in those areas as soon as the situation allows," the spokesman said.

A PNG government source also said food and water were not being denied to asylum seekers.

The source said staff were engaging with protesters to de-escalate tensions and had not tried to force entry into the barricaded compounds.

"At this time the government of PNG has refrained from forcing entry to the two compounds," the source said.

"However, while we respect the right of asylum seekers to protest and voice their concerns, we will not permit them to do so in a way that endangers other asylum seekers, staff or the centre."

Some asylum seekers who do not want to be involved in the protest have been moved to other parts of the Manus Island facility.

'A disaster about to happen'

On Sunday, the Refugee Action Coalition published a letter it said was signed by 80 asylum seekers in Foxtrot compound.

"Here a disaster is about to happen, please prevent this disaster," the letter read.

"The Australian Government is planning to resettle us in PNG against our will, by forcing us.

"We are not willing to be resettled in PNG because there is no safety [or] any future for us and our family.

"Today we consider us to be hostage for the Australian Government so they can deter others not to come to Australia."

Australians tired of secrecy: Shorten

The protests began on Tuesday, apparently sparked by plans to transfer some of the 50 men given refugees status to a transit centre near the main town of Manus Island.

The Australian and Papua New Guinean governments have said "non-compliant behaviour" will not change the outcome for those detained at the Australian-run facility.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the Government needed to be upfront about what was happening on Manus Island.

"I think most Australians are sick and tired of the culture of secrecy surrounding Manus Island," he said.

"We've got to have the right policies in terms of deterring people smugglers. The people that come into the care of Australia must be treated properly."


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-18/asylum-seekers-barricade-compounds-at-manus-island-centre/6023812

I think the Abbott government is sick and tired of cleaning up Labor's colossal mess that Rudd created.

If they don't like PNG, they can always go home.

Who does Bill Shorten think he is appealing to? The vast majority of Australian electors who supported the "stop the boats" campaign?
He's a bigger mug than he looks if that's the case.

Does he think he is going to change community attitudes in the present climate of international terrorism?
Makes you wonder where they get them.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 1:20pm:

I think the Abbott government is sick and tired of cleaning up Labor's colossal mess that Rudd created.

Cleaning up now means inciting a riot. A new low, even for you.

chicken_lipsforme wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 1:21pm:

If they don't like PNG, they can always go home.

Australia?

____ wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 1:22pm:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 18th, 2015 at 1:20pm: I think the Abbott government is sick and tired of cleaning up Labor's colossal mess that Rudd created. Cleaning up now means inciting a riot. A new low, even for you.

Actually, the Greens are partly to blame, as they supported the failure that was Rudd on this issue and then they supported that lesbian Gillard in her farcical attempts to "stop the boats".

____ wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 1:23pm:

chicken_lipsforme wrote on Jan 18th, 2015 at 1:21pm: If they don't like PNG, they can always go home. Australia?

They were born here, were they? They're Australian citizens, eh?

treat people like animals and they quickly become animals .... the govt. can only blame itself.

why are they so fearful to be re settled in PNG? I wouldnt like to live there either but given the difference between the conditions these people are allegedly fleeing who wouldnt opt for PNG re settlement. Refugees my arse. They need to put this riot down, hard.

It is arguable these people are animals to start with.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 1:24pm:

____ wrote on Jan 18th, 2015 at 1:23pm: chicken_lipsforme wrote on Jan 18th, 2015 at 1:21pm: If they don't like PNG, they can always go home. Australia? They were born here, were they? They're Australian citizens, eh?

They are refugees and they arrived in Australia ... that makes them our responsibility.


You don't have to be born here ... otherwise the illegitimate pm isn't a dual citizen australian, he's just a pom.

Time for the tear gas and batons.

bogarde73 wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 1:29pm:

It is arguable these people are animals to start with.

Obviously you are speaking about the abbott mob, led by monkey.

bogarde73 wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 1:29pm:

It is arguable these people are animals to start with.

many would argue the same about you

And have so done, you're not wrong there.

ian wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 1:30pm:

Time for the tear gas and batons.

Could always play Gillard speeches over the intercom system - that'd scare the tripe out of them.

These country shoppers are getting pickier and pickier, aren't they?

I think the Peter Dutton's measured announcement to them - "you are never coming to Australia" - will work its magic in due course and set them to thinking it's time to ask to be sent somewhere else.

bogarde73 wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 1:41pm:

I think the Peter Dutton's measured announcement to them - "you are never coming to Australia" - will work its magic in due course and set them to thinking it's time to ask to be sent somewhere else.

Yeah, like back home to where they came from.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 1:20pm:

I think the Abbott government is sick and tired of cleaning up Labor's colossal mess that Rudd created.

Dont worry, according to the majority of voters that have been polled for well over a year now they have every intention of relieving Abbott of this burden first opportunity they get. :)

skippy. wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 1:55pm:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 18th, 2015 at 1:20pm: I think the Abbott government is sick and tired of cleaning up Labor's colossal mess that Rudd created. Dont worry, according to the majority of voters that have been polled for well over a year now they have every intention of relieving Abbott of this burden first opportunity they get. :)

;D ;D ;D ;D

The Greens and ALP promised them centrelink for life and they got head hunters instead, no wonder they are pissed.  ;D

innocentbystander. wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 3:01pm:

The Greens and ALP promised them centrelink for life and they got head hunters instead, no wonder they are pissed.  ;D

i bet you actually thought that was funny when you wrote it didn't you?

John Smith wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 3:09pm:

innocentbystander. wrote on Jan 18th, 2015 at 3:01pm: The Greens and ALP promised them centrelink for life and they got head hunters instead, no wonder they are pissed.  ;D i bet you actually thought that was funny when you wrote it didn't you?

I think you're funny ... funny in the head that is  ;D

innocentbystander. wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 3:13pm:

John Smith wrote on Jan 18th, 2015 at 3:09pm: innocentbystander. wrote on Jan 18th, 2015 at 3:01pm: The Greens and ALP promised them centrelink for life and they got head hunters instead, no wonder they are pissed.  ;D i bet you actually thought that was funny when you wrote it didn't you? I think you're funny ... funny in the head that is  ;D

we've already proven that anything you think is funny is not ... perhaps you should try a different emotion?

Bystander, that's gold.

chicken_lipsforme wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 1:21pm:

If they don't like PNG, they can always go home.

So the fact that hardly any ask to be returned to their country of origin shows that conditions back home for these ASs are much worse or more dangerous than the concentration camp on Manus Isl!

St George of the Garden wrote on Jan 19^th, 2015 at 5:44am:

chicken_lipsforme wrote on Jan 18th, 2015 at 1:21pm: If they don't like PNG, they can always go home. So the fact that hardly any ask to be returned to their country of origin shows that conditions back home for these ASs are much worse or more dangerous than the concentration camp on Manus Isl!

Not at all.
It's quite obvious these country shoppers are prepared to wait for what they initially paid for otherwise they lose their dough eh.
However they might be waiting a while for a Coalition government to compromise what has been and is a working policy.
Because right now, the smugglers don't have a product to sell.

____ wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 1:23pm:

chicken_lipsforme wrote on Jan 18th, 2015 at 1:21pm: If they don't like PNG, they can always go home. Australia?

This country will never be these country shoppers home.
They should have picked somewhere else.

The solution is simple!

Offer a free BBQ:

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/lioneledriess/pigonthespit.jpg

and a 30 pak of VB.

Those that partake get their papers.

8-)

Rocketanski wrote on Jan 18^th, 2015 at 3:16pm:

Bystander, that's gold.

"Bystander, that's gold  old as the hills and still as empty."