Shaminda Kanapathi is a Tamil from Sri Lanka who suffered dreadfully under the Australian-run immigration detention program in Papua New Guinea. While he now lives safely and productively near Finland’s capital of Helsinki, he is a prime example of why a parliamentary inquiry into this program on both the Australian mainland and offshore is needed Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Australian refugee policy’
Protesters block entrance to Australian High Commission’s gates in NZ
Thursday, November 16th, 2017
About 20 protesters blocked the entrance to the Australian high commission in Wellington on Monday to highlight the plight of refugees and asylum-seekers on Manus Island. “The purpose of the protest was to prevent anyone inside from leaving”, Peace Action Wellington spokeswoman Emma Cullen said. “We’re shutting them down for as long as we can Read more
Manus: Take up New Zealand’s offer, says Australian bishop
Thursday, November 9th, 2017
The Australian Bishops’ Delegate for Migrants and Refugees says the Australian government should accept New Zealand’s offer to take detainees on Manus Island. “It is time to find an alternative and conscionable solution, including accepting New Zealand’s offer of resettlement and bringing the remaining detainees on Manus Island to Australia,” said Bishop Vincent Long Van Read more
Brigidine Sister sounds alarm about lack of support for mentally ill
Monday, October 9th, 2017
A 72-year-old Brigidine sister, Jane Keogh, is on Manus Island where she has been trying to help a mentally ill man at the East Lorengau Transit Centre. She says there is no help available for people suffering from mental illness. Last week an apparent suicide of a Tamil detainee was closely followed by that of Read more
Australian, New Zealand, Melanesian and Pacific Bishops condemn asylum seekers’ situation
Friday, August 26th, 2016
The body representing the Catholic Bishops of Oceania have joined the international outcry at what is happening to asylum seekers The Executive Committee of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands have issued a statement condemning what is happening to asylum seekers on Manus Read more
Tension rising between locals and refugees in Manus
Friday, May 27th, 2016
PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill announced on April 27 that Australian-funded Manus Island detention center, which houses refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants will be closed. The future of the detainees still remains uncertain. They have the option to settle in PNG or return home. The latest figures show just one in four transferees are opting Read more
Australian asylum seeker policy designed to break people
Friday, May 13th, 2016
Peter Dutton, what do you do between the hours of midnight and 5am? Do you sleep? If so, I really must ask – how can you? Dozens of Australians sit up all night, every single night, comforting asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru. You don’t have to, therefore the task falls to the advocates. Read more