'Let us free' - Manus refugees write to APEC leaders

10:00 am on 16 November 2018

Refugees detained by Australia on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island have written a letter to leaders attending this weekend's APEC summit in Port Moresby.

The letter asks the leaders to put pressure on Australia and PNG to set the refugees free.

It notes the men have been exiled to the island for more than five years and that many of them have been damaged mentally and physically by their internment.

The letter says the refugees have been tortured by the governments of PNG and Australia and that seven of them have died through suicide or medical neglect.

The letter written by Manus Island refugees to leaders attending the APEC Summit in PNG.

The letter written by Manus Island refugees to leaders attending the APEC Summit in PNG. Photo: Supplied

14 Nov 2018

To the political leaders who attend the APEC meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

We are a group of refugees currently living on Manus Island in PNG where we have been exiled by the Australian government since 2013. We have been kept here against our will by the Australian and PNG governments in a prison camp for more than five years. We have been recognised as refugees under the international convention but after years we're still living in limbo without any future. We have been tortured by the Australian and PNG governments and seven of our friends have died because of suicide or medical neglect. Many of us have been damaged mentally and physically by our internment here.

We kindly ask all leaders who are participating in the APEC Summit to include this issue in your meetings while you are in PNG, and put pressure on Australia and PNG to let us free.

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