Detainee says PNG police controlling Manus Island facility

Transcript

A Kurdish Iranian journalist detained in the Manus Island offshore processing facility says Papua New Guinea police have taken control of the compound.

The police say they're providing security outside the facility.

The journalist, Behrouz Bouchani, has been on Manus Island for nearly three years and says restrictions in the compound have been relaxed since the PNG Supreme court ruled the facility was illegal.

Ben Robinson spoke with Behrouz Bouchani.

Behrouz Bouchani: After the court decision the gate between our prison is not now and we can walk freely inside the prison. For example, I am in Oscar prison now and I can walk freely to other prisons like Delta prison. Also, the phone was illegal in this prison, but now I can use phone freely. It's very, very good. Also, I can say the security system has completely collapsed and PNG police is controlling the prison and Wilson security, after the court decision, they are only watching and they don't have any power to make rules and control us and control our lives. I published an article about them one time and I explained sometimes they beat people and put people in isolation room, like choker. Really we didn't feel safety in this prison. PNG police now at the office inside the prison which is very good because PNG police is much better than Wilson Security.

Ben Robinson: Do they treat you better?

Behrouz Bouchani: Yeah, they are much kinder and they don't make any stupid rules because the Security Wilson they were torturing us by a lot of rules inside the prison, but now we can feel a bit freedom inside the prison. It's much better.

Ben Robinson: So how are people feeling inside the prison? How are you feeling about your future?

Behrouz Bouchani: Really we are worried about our future because one of Australian options is to take us and exile us to Nauru Island. You know that Nauru is very small island and the people in Nauru are in very bad condition and they have mental problems now and really it's like a hell. If they, Australian government, exile us to Nauru would be very bad for us and really we are worried about Nauru option. But people think they will go to New Zealand and the people really are happy with New Zealand option and if you ask to people, majority of them say they want to go to New Zealand.

Ben Robinson: There's also legal action from some prisoners who want compensation. Do you want Australia to compensate you for your time in prison?

Behrouz Bouchani: Yes, of course. You know the Australian government put us in this hell prison for political aim and they have used our body and our soul to send a violent message around the world. This is our right that Australia pay us money and compensation.