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PNG landowners threaten to shut off water to asylum seeker centre PNG landowners threaten to shut off water to asylum seeker centre
(17 days later)
Landowners on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island are demanding $100,000 in compensation from the Australian government or they will shut off water to the asylum seeker detention centre.Landowners on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island are demanding $100,000 in compensation from the Australian government or they will shut off water to the asylum seeker detention centre.
The local MP and vice-minister for trade, Ron Knight, said landowners were demanding 231,000 kina ($A108,000) in compensation for use of a dump site near Lombrum naval base, where Australia is housing about 500 asylum seekers.The local MP and vice-minister for trade, Ron Knight, said landowners were demanding 231,000 kina ($A108,000) in compensation for use of a dump site near Lombrum naval base, where Australia is housing about 500 asylum seekers.
The groups also want 21,000 kina a month for continued use of the dump as well as 60,000 kina a month to cover anchorage and waste management of Australian navy ships.The groups also want 21,000 kina a month for continued use of the dump as well as 60,000 kina a month to cover anchorage and waste management of Australian navy ships.
At the weekend the landowners blocked the dump and a gravel pit being used by the Australian government and say they will shut down water if their demands are not met by Tuesday.At the weekend the landowners blocked the dump and a gravel pit being used by the Australian government and say they will shut down water if their demands are not met by Tuesday.
"That is the next step," Knight said. "This isn't going to be a protest. It's going to be a very, very quiet guerrilla war.""That is the next step," Knight said. "This isn't going to be a protest. It's going to be a very, very quiet guerrilla war."
A local journalist, Nick Solomon, said sewage was leaking out of the centre on to a nearby road.A local journalist, Nick Solomon, said sewage was leaking out of the centre on to a nearby road.
"It's a major sewerage problem," he said. "They have a local contractor dealing with it now.""It's a major sewerage problem," he said. "They have a local contractor dealing with it now."
He said rubbish was being kept in containers on the base.He said rubbish was being kept in containers on the base.
Knight said he had been told about the sewage leak, but had not seen it.Knight said he had been told about the sewage leak, but had not seen it.
He said the Manus Island Chamber of Commerce was expected to meet on Monday to decide what position it wanted to take on the facility.He said the Manus Island Chamber of Commerce was expected to meet on Monday to decide what position it wanted to take on the facility.
In 2001, we boycotted everything from Australia," Knight said. "No rooms at the hotel, no petrol at the bowsers. We made life hell.In 2001, we boycotted everything from Australia," Knight said. "No rooms at the hotel, no petrol at the bowsers. We made life hell.
"The same thing could happen again.""The same thing could happen again."
In mid-July landowners said black flies attracted to the dump were eating some local sago crops. Sago is a staple in the PNG diet.In mid-July landowners said black flies attracted to the dump were eating some local sago crops. Sago is a staple in the PNG diet.
The immigration minister, Tony Burke, said at the time he was seeking advice on how to deal with the dump.The immigration minister, Tony Burke, said at the time he was seeking advice on how to deal with the dump.
Landowner and local councillor George Lokowah said there was not enough work for Manus Islanders.Landowner and local councillor George Lokowah said there was not enough work for Manus Islanders.
"We have engineering people who can work, but we have gotten nothing out of [the deal]," he said."We have engineering people who can work, but we have gotten nothing out of [the deal]," he said.
"So we tried to stop the gravel pit and the dump. We will try to block the area where [the facility] gets the water from.""So we tried to stop the gravel pit and the dump. We will try to block the area where [the facility] gets the water from."
The Australian government last week held a series of workshops in PNG to explain to local businesses what they can get out of the deal.The Australian government last week held a series of workshops in PNG to explain to local businesses what they can get out of the deal.
Australia is planning to build a 600-bed facility with room for 200 staff near a school in the Manus capital, Lorengau, as well as developing other sites inside Lombrum naval base.Australia is planning to build a 600-bed facility with room for 200 staff near a school in the Manus capital, Lorengau, as well as developing other sites inside Lombrum naval base.
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