Asylum Seekers on Manus Island Fearful of Looming Deportations

Some asylum seekers on Manus Island say Papua New Guinea’s immigration service have told them they could be flown back to their countries of origin in the coming days.

The warning has sparked widespread concern throughout the confines of the detention centre; many are fearful of repercussions in their home country if they are deported.

The ABC reports PNG’s immigration service wouldn’t confirm how many detainees are facing imminent deportation. The information has been labelled “sensitive” and “operational”; however, sources told the news outlet around 163 people from countries including Bangladesh, Vietnam, Lebanon and Nepal were in line for removal.

“Australian people please help me,” said Bangladeshi asylum seeker Sohag Howlader. “Please help every refugee here. Please help.”

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, no deportations should be taking place at all; the reason being because there were concerns about how people’s refugee claims were being assessed.

Evidence of mistakes, inconsistencies and perverse decisions have been flagged by asylum seekers on the island. One Rohingya asylum seeker from Myanmar told the ABC there had been no responses to their complaints. He feels, “they are just abusing the power”.

“There is no-one to oversee the process, no fairness that you can get to lodge a complaint that my process has been unfair,” the man said.

Nick McKim, a Greens senator, will bring the issue up in the Senate today. McKim has noted the removals might “violate international law”.

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