Documents issued by PNG also warn those who cannot be returned to their home country will be held in detention indefinitely

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Asylum seekers who have been denied refugee status on Manus Island have been told they will be deported “as soon as practicable” in new documents issued by Papua New Guinea’s Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority.

The documents, seen by Guardian Australia, also warn stateless asylum seekers, or those who cannot be returned to their home country, will be held in detention indefinitely, until they manage to secure a visa to another country.

The process will apply to so-called “double negatives” – asylum seekers whose application for refugee status has been denied and who have lost their appeal.

The ABC reports there are 50 people with “double negative” status in detention in PNG.

It is understood as many as 400 people currently held on Manus Island have had their first application for refugee status denied.

Guardian Australia understands the documents were read to an assembly of asylum seekers at the Australian-run detention centre, before being pinned to a noticeboard.

It is not yet known if they have been issued to any individuals, which would trigger the deportation process.

Once issued, the document says, the detainee will have one or two days to prepare for a departure interview, where they can state reasons why they should not be returned to their home country. They then have five days to get further information.

“If you choose to depart voluntarily, you will be eligible for Assisted Voluntary Return and reintegration assistance from the Internal Organisation for Migration ,” the document says. “If you are involuntarily removed, you will receive no financial assistance.”

Asylum seekers are allowed to 'communicate with the lawyer of your choice' – provided they can afford to pay

Asylum seekers are allowed to have an interpreter at the interview and “communicate with the lawyer of your choice”, provided they can afford to pay. The document states: “If the lawyer charges a fee, this must be paid by you.”

People who are issued the removal notice are to remain in detention in the mean time, but are warned they “may be held in any location, including correctional institutions, while your removal is being effected”.

In a section headed “Do I have any other options?” the document states “No”.

“You do not have the option of remaining in Papua New Guinea,” it says. “You do not have the option of going to Australia. You will never go to Australia.”

Asylum seekers held on Manus Island who are successful in applying for refugee status are supposed to be resettled in PNG, under the Rudd government’s Regional Resettlement Agreement of July 2013.

According to a statement by the PNG prime minister, Peter O’Neill, just 129 detainees had been granted refugee status as of May this year. Another 400 had their refugee application rejected and had been deported.

PNG police hold off on threat to storm Manus Island detention centre Read more

To date, no one has been resettled in PNG.

Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition, said the advocacy group would seek injunctions against the removal of any asylum seekers from PNG until a constitutional challenge to Manus Island detention centre is heard by the supreme court.

The challenge argues asylum seekers have been systematically denied due process and the protection of their rights under PNG law, and demands enforcement of their rights under the constitution. Rintoul said the injunction would be sought when the case is back before the court on 17 August.

Tensions between Australia and PNG are already running high. On Thursday, police in Manus Island threatened to storm the detention centre and arrest senior management for allegedly helping three Australian men, all former guards at the centre, who are charged with raping a local woman.

And on Friday, Peter O’Neill, the prime minister of PNG, said he would remove all Australian officials working in his government by the end of the year, telling parliament he was concerned about spying and also that they were making local government workers lazy.

The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, has been contacted for comment.