The prime minister of Papua New Guinea said most of the refugees being held at the Australian-run detention centre in Manus Island are not genuine asylum seekers and are to be deported “within weeks”.
Describing most of the refugees as “economic migrants”, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill told ABC,
"Most of the other people who are in the processing centre: we're now talking to their governments and we will start repatriating many of them in a very short time."
Protests involving hundreds of asylum seekers erupted at the detention centre earlier this month, with many stating their asylum claims have not yet been processed.
Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition told the BBC "[Mr O'Neill] is in no place to know whether they are [economic refugees] or not… There has been no determination assessment."
He went on to add that the news of deportation "undermines confidence that there is any respect for refugee law".
See more from the BBC here.
The latest statement by Mr O’Neill come as eight former Australians of the Year called for the immediate release of all refugee children being held in immigration detention by the Australian government.
Calling the indefinite detention of children “inhumane and unnecessary”, an open letter co-ordinated by Unicef, says,
“We are a country of hope, with a commitment to the freedom and dignity of all people … that strives to protect the rights of the most vulnerable. Indefinite detention of children and babies is at odds with these hopes and principles.
“These children and their parents came to us in desperation, seeking our help. They came to us seeking safety, knowing of Australia’s reputation as a fair, inclusive and just society and knowing we are a people who are never afraid to lend a hand to those in need.”
“If we continue to detain these children and their families, it would not only be inhumane but unnecessary, and diminish our reputation as a fair and mature nation.”
See more from the Guardian here.