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Nauru refugee left with horrific head wound in attack dismissed by police Nauru refugee left with horrific head wound in attack dismissed by police
(6 months later)
A refugee on Nauru has told police he was attacked on Saturday night with a machete – leaving him with a head wound that required eight stitches – but police have dismissed his injury and complaint as being “made for media exposure only”.A refugee on Nauru has told police he was attacked on Saturday night with a machete – leaving him with a head wound that required eight stitches – but police have dismissed his injury and complaint as being “made for media exposure only”.
In his statement, the 34-year-old Iranian – who does not want to be identified for fear of repercussions for family members still in Iran – reported he was attacked by two Nauruan men who approached him on a motorbike as he walked alone near the Nibok settlement at about 10pm on Saturday night.In his statement, the 34-year-old Iranian – who does not want to be identified for fear of repercussions for family members still in Iran – reported he was attacked by two Nauruan men who approached him on a motorbike as he walked alone near the Nibok settlement at about 10pm on Saturday night.
He said the attack was unprovoked, with one of the men striking him across the top of his head with a “knife to cut a coconut”, understood to be a machete or similar. One of the assailants yelled “Fuck refugees”.He said the attack was unprovoked, with one of the men striking him across the top of his head with a “knife to cut a coconut”, understood to be a machete or similar. One of the assailants yelled “Fuck refugees”.
Pictures of the man’s head show a deep wound through the middle of his head, sewn together with stitches.Pictures of the man’s head show a deep wound through the middle of his head, sewn together with stitches.
The following night, Sunday 6 March, local men surrounded the accommodation at Nibok where the man lives with his wife. “The group of Nauruans came asking for a fight and they carried sharp knives,” one witness told Guardian Australia.The following night, Sunday 6 March, local men surrounded the accommodation at Nibok where the man lives with his wife. “The group of Nauruans came asking for a fight and they carried sharp knives,” one witness told Guardian Australia.
The husband and wife barricaded themselves inside their accommodation. The attackers were unable to get inside, but threatened the pair, saying: “Fuck you, we will kill you.”The husband and wife barricaded themselves inside their accommodation. The attackers were unable to get inside, but threatened the pair, saying: “Fuck you, we will kill you.”
Police were called and attended – after a delay of more than one hour, according to another source on the island – but no arrests were made.Police were called and attended – after a delay of more than one hour, according to another source on the island – but no arrests were made.
Nauruan police have denied the assault took place, saying in a statement that officers “received a complaint about an alleged attack and responded immediately”.Nauruan police have denied the assault took place, saying in a statement that officers “received a complaint about an alleged attack and responded immediately”.
The police statement in full reads: “The complainant told police he was hit with a ‘steel object’ but refused to allow police to conduct a medical examination, provided no other details and refused to provide a statement to police or cooperate with any investigation. There was no obvious physical evidence of any attack. Police conclude that this complaint was made for media exposure only and has no basis.”The police statement in full reads: “The complainant told police he was hit with a ‘steel object’ but refused to allow police to conduct a medical examination, provided no other details and refused to provide a statement to police or cooperate with any investigation. There was no obvious physical evidence of any attack. Police conclude that this complaint was made for media exposure only and has no basis.”
The man who alleged the assault showed police the wound to his head.The man who alleged the assault showed police the wound to his head.
“The unprovoked attack once again reveals both the real danger and the complete absence of official willingness to protect refugees on Nauru,” Ian Rintoul, spokesman for the Refugee Action Coalition, said on Wednesday.“The unprovoked attack once again reveals both the real danger and the complete absence of official willingness to protect refugees on Nauru,” Ian Rintoul, spokesman for the Refugee Action Coalition, said on Wednesday.
“The lack of security at Nibok and other camps on Nauru leaves refugees open to attack.”“The lack of security at Nibok and other camps on Nauru leaves refugees open to attack.”
Rintoul said the victim’s wife had told him: “We cannot sleep for fear we will be attacked again.”Rintoul said the victim’s wife had told him: “We cannot sleep for fear we will be attacked again.”
Also on Wednesday, the Nauruan education department released a video featuring education minister Charmaine Scotty denying claims that refugee and asylum seeker children were being abused and assaulted in local schools.Also on Wednesday, the Nauruan education department released a video featuring education minister Charmaine Scotty denying claims that refugee and asylum seeker children were being abused and assaulted in local schools.
Earlier this year, videos were posted online of refugee and asylum seeker children on Nauru stating they had been hit by teachers and bullied by students.Earlier this year, videos were posted online of refugee and asylum seeker children on Nauru stating they had been hit by teachers and bullied by students.
Scotty said the allegations were “an affront to Nauru” and not true.Scotty said the allegations were “an affront to Nauru” and not true.
“It’s been overall a very harmonious experience for these kids.“It’s been overall a very harmonious experience for these kids.
“If these complaints are genuine, it would have happened also with the local kids, with the Nauruan children.”“If these complaints are genuine, it would have happened also with the local kids, with the Nauruan children.”
Nauru’s education system essentially collapsed in the early 2000s – for five years schools barely functioned on the island, no exams were held and there was a mass exodus of teachers from the profession. The system is being slowly rebuilt, largely with Australian money.Nauru’s education system essentially collapsed in the early 2000s – for five years schools barely functioned on the island, no exams were held and there was a mass exodus of teachers from the profession. The system is being slowly rebuilt, largely with Australian money.
The closure of the Australia-run school for asylum seeker and refugee children within the detention centre was fiercely resisted last year, with students saying they were fearful of being moved to the local school because they would be attacked. In their online video released in January, they reported being punched by students and their complaints dismissed by teachers because they were refugees.The closure of the Australia-run school for asylum seeker and refugee children within the detention centre was fiercely resisted last year, with students saying they were fearful of being moved to the local school because they would be attacked. In their online video released in January, they reported being punched by students and their complaints dismissed by teachers because they were refugees.
The two incidents – and their responses from Nauruan authorities – are evidence of the continuing difficulties being experienced on Nauru in attempting to assimilate refugees from a variety of religious and ethnic backgrounds into a monocultural, Christian, island society.The two incidents – and their responses from Nauruan authorities – are evidence of the continuing difficulties being experienced on Nauru in attempting to assimilate refugees from a variety of religious and ethnic backgrounds into a monocultural, Christian, island society.
Nauru’s on-island population is about 8,000. The nearly 500 people in the detention centre and more than 550 refugees resettled in the community have suddenly added more than 10% to the population. Nauru is, per capita, the third-largest refugee-hosting country in the world, courtesy of Australia’s offshoring policy.Nauru’s on-island population is about 8,000. The nearly 500 people in the detention centre and more than 550 refugees resettled in the community have suddenly added more than 10% to the population. Nauru is, per capita, the third-largest refugee-hosting country in the world, courtesy of Australia’s offshoring policy.
Related: More refugees leave Cambodia, further straining $55m deal with Australia
Despite constant denials by the Nauruan government of tension between refugees and locals, there is significant hostility towards the new residents on the tiny island.Despite constant denials by the Nauruan government of tension between refugees and locals, there is significant hostility towards the new residents on the tiny island.
Single women in particular are singled out for verbal abuse and physical attack.Single women in particular are singled out for verbal abuse and physical attack.
The Australian government is continuing to search for a “third country” in which it can resettle those it has sent to Nauru. The Nauruan government has resolutely maintained it will not accept any refugees for permanent resettlement.The Australian government is continuing to search for a “third country” in which it can resettle those it has sent to Nauru. The Nauruan government has resolutely maintained it will not accept any refugees for permanent resettlement.
The Australian government’s only third-country resettlement option so far – Cambodia – has been a calamitous failure, with only two refugees resettled in the south-east Asian nation, at a cost to Australia of $55m.The Australian government’s only third-country resettlement option so far – Cambodia – has been a calamitous failure, with only two refugees resettled in the south-east Asian nation, at a cost to Australia of $55m.
Three other refugees transferred to Cambodia have opted to risk returning home, to Myanmar and Iran, despite the Australian and Nauruan governments finding they faced “a well-founded fear of persecution” in their homelands.Three other refugees transferred to Cambodia have opted to risk returning home, to Myanmar and Iran, despite the Australian and Nauruan governments finding they faced “a well-founded fear of persecution” in their homelands.