Peter Dutton worried about volatile Manus Island protests; says hunger-strikers will never arrive in Australia The Immigration Minister says he is worried about the volatile situation at the Manus Island detention centre, where asylum seekers have reportedly swallowed washing powder and razors as part of ongoing protests. Peter Dutton said he was concerned about the behaviour of asylum seekers, but would not give any detail about the information he had received. Im worried about developments across the last 24 hours, Im concerned about what Ive learnt in the last hour or so and the situation is volatile theres no question about that, he said. Mr Dutton said people outside the centre had been encouraging the behaviour by telling asylum seekers it could help them get to Australia. Im very concerned that somehow people are conveying a message that through non-compliant behaviour, by refusing to take food or water that somehow that behaviour will change the outcome for those individual cases in terms of their desire to be settled in Australia, he said. If people are acting on that advice they should dismiss that advice. Mr Dutton confirmed there had been incidents of self-harm at the centre and said asylum seekers had been offered medical help. He said one detainee had been transferred from the facility for X-rays and more specialised treatment. Banner on Manus Island PHOTO: A banner on display inside the Manus Island detention centre (Supplied) The minister said the behaviour would not change the Governments resolve on border security and detainees on Manus Island would never be resettled in Australia. My message today is very clear to the transferees on Manus and in other facilities: whilst there has been a change of minister the absolute resolve of me as the new minister and of the Government is to make sure that for those transferees they will never arrive in Australia, he said. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said there was a human disaster unfolding inside the detention centre and the ministers response was woefully inadequate. I fear that the harsh message that he attempted to send to those who are already showing such awful, tragic signs of desperation will simply inflame the situation, she said. What we need is not harsh sound bites from the Immigration Minister but a little more heart and a little more compassion and empathy. After Mr Duttons suggestion people outside the centre were encouraging the asylum seekers behaviour, Senator Hanson-Young made clear her message for the protesters: Please dont harm yourselves, involve in a constructive discussion with those inside, those who work at the centre and of course those who represent the Immigration Minister. Video appears to show men being taken away on stretchers The ABC has obtained video from inside the detention centre showing what appears to be two men being taken away on stretchers. An asylum seeker said the images showed Pakistani men who had consumed washing powder and then collapsed. He said another Iranian man swallowed razor blades, the second such alleged case this week. The ABC cannot independently verify the reports, and the condition of those who have collapsed is not known. Other footage, said to be from Delta compound, showed asylum seekers chanting for freedom while guards patrolled on the other side of a fence. An asylum seeker who spoke to the ABC on Wednesday said 15 people had sewn their lips shut and 400 men were on a hunger strike. The protest and hunger strike continues into its fourth day. Asylum seeker on hunger strike moved from hospital Meanwhile, an asylum seeker on an extended hunger strike in Darwin has been moved from hospital - where he was being treated for an infected foot - back to the Wickham Point Detention Centre. The 33-year-old Iranian man has spent the past four years in immigration detention, and stopped eating in November last year in protest over losing his visa application. He was near death seven weeks later, when a renewed legal appeal persuaded him to break his strike for just a few days. Asylum seekers protest on Manus Island PHOTO: Asylum seekers protest on Manus Island (Supplied) But he has since resumed the hunger strike and is now emaciated and disabled from infected mosquito bites that saw him sent to hospital, according to his lawyer John Lawrence. Mr Lawrence said though his client said he is prepared to die, he was making a rational political protest. The ethical issues that persist in this case are complex and very difficult, minute by minute, day by day hour by hour, he said. Ultimately I am his lawyer and Im satisfied that his mental faculties are in order, Im satisfied that what hes doing is what he has chosen to do despite daily persuasive efforts made by his advisors. abc.net.au/news/2015-01-16/peter-dutton-concerned-by-volatile-situation-at-manus-island/6020964
Posted on: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 02:42:00 +0000
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