10 Aug 2017

Violent arrests at peaceful refugee protest on Nauru

11:40 am on 10 August 2017

Violent arrests have been reported at the Australian run refugee detention centre on Nauru.

The Nauru protest at OPC1 on Tuesday 9-8-17.

The Nauru protest at OPC1 on Tuesday 9-8-17. Photo: Refugee Action Coalition

The Refugee Action Coalition released video they said was of the violent apprehension of peaceful protesters yesterday.

A spokesperson for the coalition Ian Rintoul said the protest was prompted by revelations about Australia's prime minister and the US president.

The recently published transcript of a telephone conversation from late January shows Malcolm Turnbull telling Donald Trump he is not obliged to accept any of the refugees detained on Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island by Australia, despite their resettlement agreement.

Mr Rintoul said protests had spread across refugee camps and settlements on Nauru in recent days.

He said this has been coupled with increasing repression from police.

"There were at least two people at the protest that were quite badly beaten according to witnesses who were there and they were very concerned about their welfare but they'd not been able to see them at the police station," said Mr Rintoul.

He said at least five refugees had been taken into custody.