Australia and Papua New Guinea deny violence at asylum-seeker camp

Australia and Papua New Guinea on Saturday denied reports that protests at an asylum-seeker camp in the Pacific nation had turned violent, officials and reports said, as hundreds of detainees continued a hunger strike. Several asylum-seekers held on Manus Island in PNG have swallowed razor blades and washing powder and more than 400 have gone on hunger strike, refugee advocates and reports said. The detainees said they were protesting their detention, living conditions and the possibility of being permanently resettled in the Pacific nation.

The (immigration) department has advised the government that whilst some transferees engaged in disruptive behaviour late yesterday, claims reported by some media outlets today that transferees were violently engaged by guards last night at the centre are not correct.

Australian immigration department spokesman

Australia sends asylum-seekers who try to enter the country by boat to offshore detention centres on Papua New Guinea and Nauru in the Pacific with no prospect of being settled on the mainland, even if they are genuine refugees. Government rebuttals followed reports from refugee advocates late Friday that there were clashes between security staff and asylum-seekers at the facility. Some 1,035 men are held on Manus Island, according to immigration figures ending December 31. No women and children are detained in the camp. A total of 895 asylum-seekers – 596 men, 164 women and 135 children – are held on Nauru.

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