Biggest yet protests on Manus Island: Lawyers arrive but protests greet Julie Bishop

The daily protests that began on Manus Island on 25 January continue to grow.

Reports from inside the detention say that yesterday, the day Foreign Minister Julie Bishop visited the island, the protests were the biggest yet.

Hundreds of the detainees in all four compounds assemble at the gates of each compounds with makeshift placards and chants for “Freedom.”

In an effort to ‘calm the protests, a handful of lawyers, was hurriedly brought from Australia arriving on the island last Thursday, but the protests have continued and there is still no indication of when the actual refugee assessments will actually begin.

Last week G4S guards tried to disperse protesters, but after angry defiance from the protesters, they withdrew from the compounds. PNG police have now been placed inside the compounds to intimidate the asylum seekers.

The lack of processing and their uncertain future is fuelling the protests which have also attracted support from Manus Island locals opposed to any expansion of the detention centre.

There are constant complaints about water restrictions and the food with detainees reporting that the bread last Friday was “full of insects.”

For more information contact Ian Rintoul mob 0417 275 713

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