Australia is preparing to move the first cohort of refugees on Manus Island into temporary accommodation on the island, but detainees are resisting, saying they fear being killed if moved into the community.



In a transcript of a speech intended for detainees at the Australian-run detention centre – a copy of which has been obtained by Guardian Australia – an official from the PNG immigration department said those recognised as refugees would be forced from detention. “Your choices are simple: make Papua New Guinea your home, or leave.”

But detainees said they have been told they will be attacked and killed if made to live in the community.

One detainee reported this week being threatened by a PNG guard at the compound: “We will rape and then kill all of those who enter new accommodations in Lorengau,” the guard allegedly said. “We are fully equipped and ready. We hate you. Leave our land. Australia is not boss, we are boss here.”

Threats of violence against detainees are common on Manus.

During riots in February, guards and police attacked detainees, injuring several and allegedly killing Reza Barati. Photograph: The Guardian

During riots in the detention centre in February, guards and police invaded and attacked detainees, injuring several and allegedly killing Reza Barati by dropping a rock on his head.

Detainees at the regional processing centre have been taken on tours of the new East Lorengau refugee transit centre.

The $137m transit centre, built at Australian taxpayers’ expense, can house 290 people, less than a third of the current detainee population.

But it is designed only as temporary accommodation, before refugees are moved to other parts of PNG.

Detainees have been told those recognised as refugees will be moved to Lorengau, against their will if necessary, “over the next few weeks”.

The text of the pro forma address said: “No refugees will be permitted to remain at the regional processing centre. I repeat, no refugees will be permitted to remain in the regional processing centre.”

Even refugees who refuse to apply for a PNG visa – several have indicated they intend not to apply – will be moved to the new centre at Lorengau, but they will not be able to leave it.

Conditions at the detention centre have been a source of regular controversy: infection is rife, toilets are broken and leaking, and the sewerage system regularly fails. Photograph: Guardian Australia

Refugees will be given a weekly allowance of 100 Kina ($46), “more than Papua New Guineans receive from their government”, and “enough food to cook for yourself”, according to the text of the speech.

But once they are moved from the transit centre to another part of PNG, they will have to look after themselves.

They will have no access to the internet in Lorengau but will be allowed phones, which they are forbidden from having in detention.

“If you get sick, you will need to go to the local hospital,” the speech said.

Guardian Australia understands refugees in the transit centre will be followed by guards whenever they leave the transit centre, and they will be allowed out during the day.

Detainees were also told:

• when you have learnt PNG languages and thoroughly understand PNG culture, you will be permitted to leave the refugee transit centre and start work – but not in Manus province. We will help you to find a suitable job and to relocate to wherever that job is

• you will be free to practise your own religion

• you will be safe. There is basic security at the refugee transit centre and the local police are also nearby

• your refugee visa will be valid for 12 months, and renewal after 12 months will be an easy process. You will not need to have your refugee claims re-assessed

• if you depart from PNG within the first 12 months of being found to be a refugee you will not be permitted to return. However, after 12 months you will be permitted to leave and return as you wish

• when you have established yourself here in PNG and are able to support your family, they will be permitted to join you here

• after eight years of residence you will be able to apply for PNG citizenship

• once you have a job, you will need to support yourself, just like Papua New Guineans

• there is no public welfare system in PNG.

Pictures from inside the compound show broken toilets and pipes, and stale, cloudy water lying on the ground. Photograph: supplied

Detainees were told again they would never return to Australia, from where they were moved, in most cases more than a year ago.

“There will be no change in these arrangements. You will never be resettled in Australia … any changes in government or policy in Australia will never affect you or change your situation. Anyone who tells you anything different is lying to you.”

The detainees were given an ultimatum, and told to prepare to move to Lorengau imminently.

“Your choices are simple: make Papua New Guinea your home, or leave.

“There are many opportunities here in PNG. Many migrants and refugees have built successful lives and careers here.”

So far, the PNG government has approved 50 refugees for resettlement – men from Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Burma. They will be the first moved to Lorengau.

Conditions at the regional processing centre have been a source of regular controversy.

Guardian Australian reported last week that detainees often waited months for medical treatment, have been given expired drugs, and that many injured in February’s riots are still suffering from their injuries more than 10 months later.

Detainee Hamid Kehazaei, 24, died in September from an infection that turned septic. An absence of basic medicines and critical delays in getting him off the island reportedly contributed to his death.

Infection is rife – detainees are forced into medical isolation at a rate of one a day – toilets are broken and leaking, and the sewerage system regularly fails.

One asylum seeker said in correspondence: “Foxtrot compound is surrounded by waste pipe and sewerage and toilet everywhere. The smell ain’t stop especially inside our rooms. The sewerage pipe loss through the big hole … the smell is awful.”

Pictures from inside the compound show broken toilets and pipes, and stale, cloudy water lying on the ground.

Detainees are being locked in solitary confinement cells at a rate of three a week, and report being regularly assaulted by guards.

“They deal with us as criminal … sometimes they take you outside and beating you very well,” one detainee told Guardian Australia.

“They came and dragging us by force … and some of the clients refuse they took them to Chauka [solitary] it like a prison or jail,” another wrote of being moved from the notorious P block in September.

Despite the conditions inside the detention centre, refugees said they feared leaving.

In a series of letters from the island, detainees said they have been told they will be attacked, and possibly killed, if they moved outside.

Detainees said they were not reassured by guards being posted at their new accommodation, because they are most often guards who have threatened them.

“Everyone knows what’s happened before in Manus Island, especially between the local people and transferees. How come [we] are going to [be] resettled in danger[ous] place like this,” one man wrote.

“This situation … is getting worse day by day, every day you will hear more … times abuse and swear, like ‘motherfucker’, ‘go back to where you came from’,” another said.

A letter signed by a group of Manus detainees pleaded with the Australian government: “If we are taken out from the camp we will face death because most of the local guards warn us not to go outside as they don’t like us and will create problems to us.”

A spokesman for the Australian immigration department told Guardian Australia: “Australia and PNG share a strong commitment to achieving humanitarian outcomes for refugees in the region. The settlement of refugees in PNG is a matter for the PNG government, administered by the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority.

“Issues relating to timing and location of settlement, conditions of refugee visas, the safety and security of refugees, and family reunion, are all matters for the PNG government to determine.”

Calls to Papua New Guinea’s foreign minister, Rimbink Pato, were not returned.