MEDIA RELEASE IT WILL NEVER BE SAFE: “CLOSE MANUS ISLAND” REFUGEE SUPPORTERS TO PROTEST AT ABBOTT SYDNEY INSTITUTE SPEECH Refugee supporters will gather, from 6pm tonight (Monday 28 April) at Star Casino Sydney, Pirrama Road entrance, to call for the closure of offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru. “Immigration Minister Scott Morrison had admitted the Australian government cannot guarantee the safety of asylum seekers they are sending to Manus Island,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition. “The truth is that the Minister cannot be trusted with the safety or the welfare of the asylum seekers. Scott Morrison is complicit in protecting the killers of Reza Barati and is responsible for leaving the asylum seekers vulnerable to further attack. “The killers of Reza Barati remain on the payroll of the detention centre management, Transfield, with government approval. And the PNG police who covered for the attackers and shot asylum seekers that night are still guarding the perimeter fence of the detention centre. “The Manus Island detention centre will never be safe. The asylum seekers live with the constant fear of another attack.” There have been a number of attempts to re-introduce that local staff into the detention centre – but, so far, all the attempts have been prevented by opposition from the asylum seekers. But tensions are sky high. Last Friday, 25 April, Transfield attempted to use one of the local guards, who was involved in the attack on 17 February, as a driver to transport asylum seekers to the medical centre. On the 25th, a Wilson security guard assaulted an asylum seeker outside the internet room, knocking him to the ground. “Shamefully, the Australian and PNG governments have conspired to thwart any independent PNG inquiry into the Manus Island detention centre and the murder of Reza Barati,” said Ian Rintoul. “The PNG police enquiry is a joke. Despite the incontrovertible evidence, the PNG police inquiry has already cleared PNG police of any involvement in the attacks and killing of Reza. “Reza’s blood in on the hands of Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison. The asylum seekers on Manus must be brought to Australia where their safety can be guaranteed.” For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Apr 2014 12:50:56 +0000
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