Advocates demand: bring back the ex-pats involved in attack on Reza Barati
Rumours of possible violent clashes between local PNG people and Wilson Security over the alleged rape of the local PNG detention administration worker has also raised anxieties among the asylum seekers that they could be the victims of any attack on the detention centre, as they were on 17 February 2014, when Reza Barati was killed.
There have been threats of violence since the incident on 17 February this year, when families of the woman involved demanded that Wilson’s hand over the security guards allegedly involved in the assault on the woman.
Transfield immediately issued warnings to staff not to leave the accommodation after 6pm.
There are concerns that staff will be withdrawn from the detention centre as concerns escalate about a possible attack on staff.
“We are asking for help. We are not safe,” one asylum seeker said from Manus Island.
The incident also raises concerns about the possible use of the Border Force Act against any whistleblowers who have information about the response of Immigration and Transfield to the incident.
The alleged rape and the recent murder and machete mutilation of two local security workers have also raised anxieties among those living in the transit accommodation in East Lorengau.
The concerns are growing as today’s ‘close-of-business’ deadline imposed by the PNG Police Commissioner for Transfield to bring back the guards sent off the island following the incident draws closer.
The move by Transfield to send the guards off the island raises parallels with the actions by previous management, G4S, in the aftermath of the killing of Reza Barati in 2014.
“There seems to be a pattern of cover-up and perverting the course of justice on Manus Island. It is not only the alleged attackers in the recent incident who should be brought back to Manus Island,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
“We want the ex-pats identified at the time as being involved in the killing of Reza Barati to also be brought back to Manus Island so his murder can be properly investigated. For too long the Immigration department and detention centre managements have acted with impunity regarding the abuses and violence associated with the detention regime.”
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713.
