Nauran police arbitrarily arrest over 100 refugees

In a move that will seriously increase tensions on Nauru, Nauruan police have arbitrarily arrested up to 150 refugees, including at least one family group with children, this morning (Wednesday, 4 March).

One 13 year-old has been arrested as a “protest leader”. At least 40 men are in Yaren police station (see photo). Female refugees are being held in a separate location.

The police first picked off individuals and a family group, including children, as they left the family compound at Anabare to go to the shops.

Dozens were then arrested as refugees tried to assemble at the police station to demand the release of those who had been arrested earlier.

Two female refugees collapsed with panic attacks in the arrests and have been taken to hospital.

The arrests follow increasing threats and intimidation from Nauruan police since the non-cooperation campaign began last week and the first peaceful protest of the campaign last Friday, 27 February.

A notice distributed by Nauruan police yesterday (Tuesday 3 March) warned refugees that there would be penalties of up to three years jail for taking part in protests. (notice attached).

Police yesterday also told refugees that they will only be allowed to protest inside their compounds.

The arrests are clearly an attempt to pre-empt a further protest planned for this afternoon, Wednesday, 4 March.

Refugees are now attempting to assemble at the police station at Yaren settlement to demand the release of all those arrested.

For many of the refugees, the actions of the Nauruan government to stifle democratic protests are similar to the actions of the dictatorships from which they have fled.

Today’s police action comes in response to a campaign of non-cooperation with the detention regime on Nauru and the first two of a series of peaceful protests by the refugees.

Nauruan police attacked a peaceful protest last Friday (27 February), punching some protesters and knocking others to the ground, to try and prevent the rally marching around the island.

The Nauru government press release (3 March, “…refugee advocate groups stirring up trouble in Nauru”) can only bring more disrepute onto the Nauruan government. There is no basis for any of its claims. No refugee has been arrested for “throwing stones” or any other form of damage. Police have failed to respond to complaints by refugees against violent police and locals.

Police inaction and the government’s attempt to stifle refugee protests have only encouraged a minority on Nauru to believe they can threaten refugees with impunity.

Documentary evidence of the 27 February rally clearly shows the police attacking refugees, including punching a refugee to prevent him recording the protest.

The refugees have appealed for solidarity from the local Nauruan community to oppose the collaboration of the Nauruan government with Australia’s offshore processing of asylum seekers.

Banners have been placed around the fence of the refugee compound at Anabare re-iterating the refugees’ intent to hold peaceful protests. One reads, “Dear Nauruan, refugees have started series of endless Peace Protests – we don’t want to fight or damage.”

“The arbitrary arrests this morning will only fuel the discontent on Nauru. Those arrested must be released.

“As more and more refugees are released into the community on Nauru, the political and social problems for the Nauruan government will grow. The refugees being warehoused for the Australian government are being denied resettlement and are essentially confined to Nauru against their will, as a permanently deprived underclass, with no future,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.

“Nauru’s collaboration with the Australian government has already damaged Nauru’s human rights’ record. It resort to heavy-handed policing to try to stifle peaceful protests will only damage its reputation even further. Now is the time for Nauru to insist that the Australian government bring all the asylum seekers and refugees back to Australia.”

For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713.

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