Interviews resume on Manus Island

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Staff from the United States Department of Homeland Security have returned to Manus Island to interview refugees about resettlement in the US.

Refugees in Australia’s offshore detention centre on the island have been told that interviews will resume this week.

Immigration authorities at the centre provided a notice to the men telling them only some will be interviewed.

“Don’t worry if you do not receive an appointment slip,” the notice said. “Further visits are anticipated in the coming months. All cases are different and will move through the resettlement process at different speeds.”

There are almost 700 refugees on the island who are eligible for resettlement in the US, but the US Government still has not said if any of them will eventually be taken there.

Refugees inside the centre said a total of 70 men have been interviewed by Department of Homeland Security staff in their previous visits.

The Australian and Papua New Guinea governments say the centre will be closed at the end of October, and the refugees will have to settle in Papua New Guinea if they are not accepted by the United States.

Immigration authorities are urging refugees inside the centre to move to a so-called “transit centre” near the main town on the island, but the refugees are refusing because they believe the town centre is not safe.

There have been several serious attacks on refugees in the town area in recent weeks.

- RNZI