Hundreds of asylum seekers vow to continue their protest as ailing detainees are carried to the gates of Australian-run compound and removed by medical staff

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Several hundred asylum seekers are continuing their hunger strike on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, with many of them severely dehydrated.

Detainees in the Australian-run immigration detention centre are carrying their collapsed fellow detainees to the front gates of compounds to be collected by medical staff.



Ninety percent of the men in Foxtrot compound are on hunger strike. In Mike, 250 of 321 men refused breakfast and lunch on Tuesday.



“Today is too hot,” one detainee told Guardian Australia from inside Foxtrot compound. “More than 15 people collapsed before midday. Our situation is very critical today. Our hunger strike will continue.”

Following a forceful breach of the Delta and Oscar compounds on Monday, detention centre guards have also swept the Manus Island compounds, run by Transfield Services, searching for mobile phones and others forms of communication.

Seven more men were reportedly arrested for having phones – used to film and photograph events and send images out of the centre – and detainees’ personal property was removed from Delta compound after the barricade there was broken.

“The guards took many MP3 and phone in Delta yesterday,” a detainee said. “The guards are taking all their property, these people are really peaceful people, they don’t have any things, any weapons, in their property, I don’t know why they are taking it away.”

There is no regulation or law that prevents detainees having a mobile phone.

Transfield’s own “rights and responsibilities” sheet, given to detainees, states: “You will be able to communicate freely with family and friends, diplomatic or consular representatives, and other representatives.”

Video footage emerging from the detention centre appears to show guards in riot gear forcefully breaching Delta compound, which was the epicentre of the recent protests.

And pictures have emerged of up to a dozen detainees reportedly in Lorengau prison. They were apparently taken there from detention and have alleged mistreatment by authorities.

The Papua New Guinean and Australian governments have not confirmed that men have been taken to Lorengau prison.

The Australian immigration minister, Peter Dutton, praised the PNG government and Australian staff on Manus Island for their intervention into the protests, which he said had degenerated into “an unacceptable and untenable solution”.

He said: “Most transferees quickly cooperated with the request to cease their action. Minimal force was used to effect entry into one compound. A number of transferees were restrained and taken to the local watch house after actively attempting to prevent the entry of service provider security staff and the provision of medical aid to fellow transferees.”



“I am advised there was no damage to infrastructure or accommodation at the centre and there were no significant injuries sustained by staff or transferees as a result of yesterday’s actions.

“A group of transferees reported to International Health and Medical Services with non-serious injuries, largely related to fatigue,” he said.

Dutton said there remained underlying tensions at the detention centre, including an ongoing hunger strike, “but this is being closely monitored”.

A spokesman for PNG’s government told the ABC that Mataio Rabura, the country’s chief migration officer, entered Delta compound and negotiated an end to the barricade, which allowed dehydrated protesters access to medical treatment.



On Tuesday morning, Dutton told Sky News there was “a degree of force” used in ending the protest.

“There was a degree of force, if you like, that was used, and I think that’s appropriate, but there wasn’t, it didn’t escalate to a point where police had to present themselves and be in conflict with the people that are in the centre,” he said.

Australia’s prime minister, Tony Abbott, said the protest was a challenge to the government’s policy of sending all asylum seekers arriving by boat for offshore processing and resettlement.

“That blockade has now been broken, thanks to good work by Transfield and their incident response team, and of course backed up by the Royal PNG constabulary,” Abbott said.

Video footage, shot from inside Oscar compound, shows guards, dressed in masks, riot gear and carrying shields, appearing to force their way into Delta compound, which had been barricaded for more than 48 hours.

Loud banging and shouting can be heard from the compound. Detainees in Oscar compound are shown watching the events and shouting.

After securing Delta compound and arresting up to 40 men, guards then entered Oscar compound. The arrested men were then reportedly taken to Lorengau prison.

Some have since been returned to the detention centre, and placed in Charlie compound, while others remain in prison.

Photographs reportedly taken inside the prison show more than a dozen men sitting and lying on the floor of a cell. Most are without shirts.

At least four of those arrested are Iranian men – whom Guardian Australia has chosen not to name – who are among the longest-held on Manus. They have been on the island since August 2013, more than 500 days ago.

One detainee said: “They attack on Delta compound and beat us very harshly. Tied our hands and bring all of us in different jails.”

Another said: “We are not safe … they beat us like dog.”

Allegations of violence or mistreatment could not be confirmed. A PNG government spokesman said there were no serious injuries.