Ben Lomai, the legal representative of the 300-plus asylum seekers and refugees currently in Manus, is concerned about the security of his clients.
He raised this concern after two Afghani refugees were attacked by locals in Lorengau town last week.
Lomai told EMTV News that more attacks will happen if both the PNG and Australian governments continue to delay the repatriation of these asylums seekers back to Australia.
He blamed the PNG and Australian governments for the cause of the attacks by locals. Lomai clarified that he is raising this concern as a lawyer for the asylum seekers.
He said besides slow court proceedings at the centre, both governments need to “step up” and try to resettle them as soon as possible, before something big happens to the detainees.
Lomai said the Supreme Court made its ruling on April 26 condemning the Manus Detention Centre as unconstitutional, and ordered its closure.
He said in a similar incident a month ago, some of the asylum seekers were attacked at a hotel in Port Moresby.
Lomai will file a contempt charge to both governments for not following the court order from April. However, he will wait until after August 22 for the court to explain order number six of the Supreme Court ruling.
This order requires both governments to take all necessary steps to cease and prevent the continued unconstitutional and illegal detention of the asylum seekers, and the continued breach of the asylum seekers constitutional and human rights.
