PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Australia’s government has been urged to provide clarity about the situation in the asylum seeker processing centre on PNG’s Manus Island.

Papua New Guinea’s Immigration department has been accommodating and processing asylum seekers on Australia’s behalf for almost three years on the island.

However refugee claims have been slow in being determined, with hundreds of refugees still to be resettled and few options available within PNG.

Tensions at the centre appear to be simmering again due to plans being unveiled for forced segregation and mass deportations.

The Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the government should explain what’s happening inside the Manus camp.

“My office has been contacted by multiple people who are very concerned about the situation on Manus Island,” she explained.

Refugee advocates have warned about the explosive potential from ongoing psychological trauma and disaffection among the detainees, particularly the men with negative
refugee status determinations who are facing deportation.

Hanson-Young says the government previously sat on its hands as tensions rose within the centre, an approach which ended in disaster, with the killing of an asylum seeker and serious assaults of others during riots.

Of the 850 men at the Manus processing centre at Lombrum, 389 have had their claims for refugee status successfully approved.

Another 59 refugees are currently held in other accommodation on Manus called a “transit centre” which PNG Immigration officers describe as a preparatory stage for the refugees’ integration into PNG society.

However to date, only a handful have been resettled in PNG.

The Greens claim that Australia’s offshore processing has clearly failed and the government has no exit strategy

“We should be processing people’s claims for asylum and bringing those who need protection to Australia,” said Ms Hanson-Young, “so that they can integrate into the community and put their lives back together in safety.”

The PNG Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority (PNGICSA) confirmed the 850 detainees at the Australian-funded centre were being separated based on whether their refugee claims had been accepted or not.

“Separate accommodation will enable us to provide services and support appropriate to each cohort’s immigration status,” PNG’s Deputy Chief Migration Officer Esther Gaegaming said in a statement.

“Refugees will be provided assistance to settle elsewhere in PNG. Non-refugees will be provided assistance to return to their country of origin, consistent with international practice.”

Gaegaming confirmed asylum seekers had been given deadlines for the processing of their refugee claims.

“The purpose of the Manus Regional Processing Centre is for the processing of refugee claims.

“That processing will soon be finished,” she said.

“All refugee status initial assessments for asylum seekers at the Manus Regional Processing Centre will be completed by March 31.

“All refugee status determinations, including independent review for negative cases, will be finalised by June 30, 2016.”

Some refugees in the detention centre have been refusing to leave because they do not believe PNG is a safe place to be resettled.

But refugees have now been told they can no longer stay in the centre.

A spokesperson for Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said all enquiries should be directed to the Papua New Guinea Government.

- ABC