Refugees on Manus fear for their future and safety while awaiting word about US resettlement as the Australian and Papua New Guinea governments start demolishing the open detention centre.
Basic services for refugees are being withdrawn - one of the four compounds at the centre at Lombrum has been emptied and is being demolished.
Detention of refugees at the centre was declared illegal in April last year by the PNG Supreme Court.
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PNG’s incumbent Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said “all options” are being considered to finalise the off-shore processing arrangement with the Australian government.
Talks are also under way, he said, to deport the 100 plus asylum seekers with negative determinations for refugee status to their country of origin.
The Australian-run centre is due to shut in October. About 800 men remain on Manus and the refugees are being pushed to relocate to a temporary transit centre in the main town of Lorengau.
Authorities say it is safe for refugees in Lorengau but the men fear violence both at the detention centre and in the town.
“Really it’s not safe for me. I fled my country because I was persecuted and the locals don’t want us to stay here," said Shamindan, a Tamil from Sri Lanka.
“People are scared of all these nationalities, hundreds of people, how come they’re going to stay in this small town.”
“I want to settle in a safe country rather than PNG.”
He rarely makes the half-hour journey by bus across the island to Lorengau unlike many others, who have reported numerous alleged assaults and robberies that have left refugees wounded and fearful.
'Welcome to Manus' sign at the local airport. Source: Stefan Armbruster SBS
The transit centre at Lorengau currently houses several dozen refugees, while the hundreds remaining at Lombrum are crowded into the remaining compounds.
“They’ve stopped all workers coming into camp, stopped all facilities, English classes, closed the gym,” said Shamindan.
“We’re staying in a classroom, the roof leaks.”
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About 400 people can be housed at Lorengau a recent Senate estimates hearing was told.
“The refugees should not be worried because of the kind of hospitality and friendly approach the local people have,” said Manus Provincial Police Commander (PPC) chief inspector David Yapu.
“We should have no problem if they respect the law of our country and respect the culture and tradition of the people of Manus.”
An investigation into PNG navy personnel shooting at the detention centre in March is currently on hold.
Chief inspector Yapu said demolition of the Foxtrot compound at Lombrum should not affect the crime scene.
“We have got the evidence, it’s just a matter or reactivating the case again and dealing with the perpetrators,” chief inspector Yapu said, adding no-one had yet been charged.
“Because of our engagement with security operations for the national election, we have withheld the file and we will reactivate the investigation when it is over.”
“I’m happy to go to US," says Pakistani refugee Naeem, right. Source: SBS World News
Safety, trust and the US resettlement deal
With no prospect of getting to Australia many refugees are pinning their hopes on a US resettlement deal brokered by the Australian government.
There are no guarantees any will be accepted under what US President Donald Trump described as an “extreme vetting” process.
Hundreds have been interviewed and a few dozen have reportedly completed the third and final stage of medical checks.
“I’m happy to go to US. It is a safe place,” said Pakistani refugee Naeem.
“We don’t know when we will move to America. It is unclear. We don’t know what will happen to us.”
The uncertainty comes amid disappointment among the refugees over last month’s $70m dollar out-of-court settlement for hundreds of detainees from the Australian government.
“Money cannot [give me] back the four years of my life that I have lost, without committing any crime,” said Naeem.
After four years at the detention centre, and despite the riots, the death of Reza Barati, and the March shooting incident, the refugees still see it as the safest place.
“They are confused and the people are broken at the centre, they don’t trust anyone, they don’t trust the US deal but are doing it as they have no choice,” said Kurdish-Iranian refugee Behrouz Boochani.
Mr Boochani’s secretly record film 'Chauka: Please Tell Us The Time' about the detention centre recently premiered at the Sydney Film Festival.
“All the refugees the US doesn’t accept, they will remain in PNG. You have to go back to your country or live in PNG, that’s the deal,” said Mr Boochani, who has not been interviewed for US resettlement.
Behrouz Boochani has not been interviewed for the US resettlement deal. Source: Stefan Armbruster
“If government take people by force then definitely we will have some violence, maybe riots, people don’t have anything to lose. We don’t want to live in PNG. It is our right to live in a safe place, this is not a safe place.
“The main question we live under is, ’When will we leave this island?’
PNG incumbent prime minister Peter O’Neill stands by his government’s handling of the deal with Australia to host the detention centre.
“Many of the people [refugees] are moving freely around the community and engaging meaningfully,” Mr O’Neill said.
“We have identified the legitimate refugees seeking to migrate to a third country, there is the solution with the Americans - agreed with the Australian, and in our own case those who are deemed to have illegally entered the country, we are now engaging in discussions with their country of origin with a view of transporting them back.
“In managing the last remaining people on Manus island, we’ve offered them resettlement in the country as well, a few of them have taken up, I think in less than 20 in total.
“We are looking at all options.”
Australia has set an August deadline for refugees to accept an offer of tens-of-thousands of dollars to return to the countries they fled.
Some have accepted but most say they cannot return.
“My life is in limbo, I have no choice. No choice,” said Samindan.
The Australian-run centre is due to shut in October. Source: Stefan Armbruster
