By Theckla Gunga – EMTV News
More concerns have been raised on the issue of over 400 refugees and asylum seekers living in Manus, and other parts of Papua New Guinea.
A panel discussion held in Port Moresby today (01 November, 2018) highlighted some of the struggles those refugees face, and the position of respective PNG government authorities on where and how has it helped these refugees.
These government authorities included the Immigration Department, the Catholic Church, and individuals in the legal sector.
The discussion highlighted some of the experiences those refugees had encountered when they arrived on Manus Island.
While most had intended to go to Australia, they are now stuck in Papua New Guinea for over six years.
Since 2012, over 400 refugees seeking asylum have arrived on the shores of Papua New Guinea after they were refused entry by the Australian Government, under the leadership of Kevin Rudd as the Prime Minister.
They were detained in Manus for over five years until the Regional Processing Centre.
However when the Supreme Court ordered for the closure of the Dentation Centre in October 2017, the Australian Government has said little about the resettlement of these refugees.
According to the Immigration Department, all asylum seekers have who had arrived on Manus Island have been processed and ready for resettlement, either in PNG or a third country.
Meanwhile, former human rights lawyer and now NCD Governor, Powes Parkop, is not happy about Australia’s silence on the next step that should be taken to resettle these refugees.
