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Papua New Guinea to shut Australia's Manus Island migrant camp | Papua New Guinea to shut Australia's Manus Island migrant camp |
(35 minutes later) | |
Papua New Guinea is to close a detention centre used by Australia for asylum seekers, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has announced. | |
His statement followed a Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday that detaining people in such a camp was unconstitutional. | His statement followed a Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday that detaining people in such a camp was unconstitutional. |
Australia sends asylum seekers to the Manus Island detention centre under its offshore processing policy. | Australia sends asylum seekers to the Manus Island detention centre under its offshore processing policy. |
Earlier on Wednesday, Australia's PM said the asylum seekers were the responsibility of Papua New Guinea. | |
"Naturally we are working, we'll work with them, support them," Malcolm Turnbull said, "but it's a matter that we've got to go through the judgment, got to go through the implications, what the options are for the PNG government. | |
"So, I can't provide a definitive road map from here right today," he added. | |
Currently about 850 men are held on the island, about half of whom have been judged genuine refugees. | Currently about 850 men are held on the island, about half of whom have been judged genuine refugees. |
Manus Island: a controversial 'solution' | Manus Island: a controversial 'solution' |
Manus Island: Australia's Guantanamo? | Manus Island: Australia's Guantanamo? |
Australia's controversial asylum policy | Australia's controversial asylum policy |
'Out of step' | 'Out of step' |
Mr O'Neill said that, following the ruling, "Papua New Guinea will immediately ask the Australian government to make alternative arrangements for the asylum-seekers currently held at the Regional Processing Centre". | |
He said that those "deemed legitimate refugees" would be invited to live in Papua New Guinea "if they want to be part of our society and make a contribution to our community". | He said that those "deemed legitimate refugees" would be invited to live in Papua New Guinea "if they want to be part of our society and make a contribution to our community". |
"It is clear," he added, "that several of these refugees do not want to settle in Papua New Guinea". | "It is clear," he added, "that several of these refugees do not want to settle in Papua New Guinea". |
Mr O'Neill's announcement leaves Australia with a headache - what to do with the asylum seekers, says the BBC's Jon Donnison in Sydney. | |
One option is for Australia to shift them to its offshore detention centres in Nauru and on Christmas Island, he adds. | |
Following the Supreme Court ruling, Australia's Immigration Minister Peter Dutton made it clear that the asylum-seekers would not be allowed to come to Australia. | |
The president of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Gillian Triggs said the court decision showed Australia's immigration policies were "increasingly out of step with international norms". | |
'Illegal' | |
Five judges on Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court's bench ruled that the Manus Island camp breached section 42 of the constitution, which guarantees personal liberty. | Five judges on Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court's bench ruled that the Manus Island camp breached section 42 of the constitution, which guarantees personal liberty. |
The court said "all steps" should be taken to end the "illegal" detention. | The court said "all steps" should be taken to end the "illegal" detention. |
Papua New Guinea's constitution guarantees personal liberty for all people, except in defined circumstances relating to crime, illegal immigration and quarantine. | Papua New Guinea's constitution guarantees personal liberty for all people, except in defined circumstances relating to crime, illegal immigration and quarantine. |
In 2014, Papua New Guinea's government amended section 42 of the constitution to add a paragraph that allowed for "holding a foreign national under arrangements made by Papua New Guinea with another country". | In 2014, Papua New Guinea's government amended section 42 of the constitution to add a paragraph that allowed for "holding a foreign national under arrangements made by Papua New Guinea with another country". |
But the Supreme Court ruled this amendment was unconstitutional, as it did not meet a requirement to respect "the rights and dignity of mankind". | But the Supreme Court ruled this amendment was unconstitutional, as it did not meet a requirement to respect "the rights and dignity of mankind". |
Are you affected by issues in this story? Have you stayed at the centre or are you there now? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you affected by issues in this story? Have you stayed at the centre or are you there now? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |