19 Jan 2015

Advocate says Manus protest in PNG likely to continue

8:47 pm on 19 January 2015

A refugee advocate says the protest by asylum seekers at the Manus processing centre in Papua New Guinea is likely to continue.

Various hunger strikers at compounds in the Manus centre have been protesting for seven days about the planned resettlement of 50 refugees in PNG.

Ian Rintoul of the Refugee Action Coalition says the asylum seekers have legitimate fears for their well-being in the PNG community.

He says meanwhile, the asylum seekers face threats from security personnel brought in to handle the protests.

"The sooner that the Australian government and the PNG government recognises that there is a very serious issue on Manus Islands, then the sooner there can be some kind of resolution to this. But the Australian government has got no plan and there is no arrangements with PNG to provide safe and secure resettlement in PNG, either in Manus Island in the immediate future or in PNG more generally."

Asylum seekers in Manus Island centre protesting  against resettlement plans

Asylum seekers in Manus Island centre protesting against resettlement plans Photo: Supplied by Refugee Action Coalition