MEDIA RELEASE PROTEST AT HIGH COURT OFFSHORE DETENTION HEARING MANUS ISLAND ASYLUM SEEKERS ARE UNSAFE AS PNG POLICE ATTEMPT WITNESS INTERVIEWS The Refugee Action Coalition has called a protest at the Sydney Law Courts Building in Macquarie Street, for 9.00am Friday, 9 May. The protest will coincide with the High Court hearing in Canberra regarding the constitutionality of the declaration of Manus Island and Nauru as offshore processing centres. “A favourable decision by the High Court in this case could see the closure of both Manus Island and Nauru. Offshore processing is both cruel and fantastically expensive. If the Minister was interested in either the welfare of asylum seekers or the budget’s bottom line, he would close Manus and Nauru,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition. The protest will also raise concerns for the safety of Manus Island asylum seekers, particularly those who witnessed the killing of Reza Barati and the savage assaults on other asylum seekers on 17 February by G4S staff (now employed by Transfield) and by PNG police. PNG police yesterday attempted to interview six asylum seekers at the Manus Island detention centre. All six asylum seekers refused to be interviewed, explaining that they fear for their safety and need proper protection. The High Court is due to consider application to place witnesses to Reza’s murder under a witness protection program in Australia, next week. “The Minister has admitted he cannot guarantee the safety of the Manus Island detainees. Now further reports indicate that security for the asylum seekers on Manus is being further degraded by the withdrawal of existing Wilson security staff, ” said Ian Rintoul. “The risk that witnesses to Reza’s murder will face revenge attack grows day by day. An interview with the PNG police could well be a death sentence. “Detention on Manus Island is no longer tenable. The PNG police are not competent to investigate Reza’s killing given that members of the PNG mobile squad were involved in the attack on the asylum seekers. “The Minister’s refusal to establish an independent inquiry has rendered Scott Morrison complicit in Reza’s murder and the subsequent cover-up. The asylum seekers on Manus must be brought to Australia.” For more information contact Ian Rintoul mob 0417 275 713
Posted on: Thu, 08 May 2014 05:45:38 +0000
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