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#IAmWatching Manus
Nov. 2nd, 2017 09:45 amA merciless fear provoked by last night's events has gripped the Manus Island camp (GA, 1 November 2017). Behrouz Boochani (who has just won Amnesty International's Media Award) writes: "If we are attacked, we will be nothing but a group of defenceless bodies." He also describes a particularly horrific aspect of the situation: "When the power is cut off the water in the toilets is also automatically cut off. This means the toilets have become even filthier. They stink to high heaven, it is extremely annoying and debasing. It is so humiliating. I have witnessed with my own eyes how a human being can degrade another human being, using toilets as a technology of torture."
Manus Island stand-off continues, Greens say asylum seekers stripped of mental health medications (ABC, 1 November 2017) About a fifth of the men are on meds for mental illness, including depression and PTSD. Stopping those medications suddenly can have a savage effect on the body and mind and is potentially deadly. If mine were taken away, I would be at risk for seizures and suicide, as well as depression, mania, panic, and sudden fits of rage. And I'm not surrounded by guns and machetes.
Manus Island: UN says new accommodation 'not ready' for refugees (GA, 1 November 2017). UNHCR rep Nat Jit Lam, inspected the West Lorengau site: "There was still major earthworks in progress. There was heavy machinery on the ground as well, fences still being constructed." Green Senator Nick McKim says there is a shortage of about 150 beds in the new accommodation.
Pleas for New Zealand, Papua New Guinea to intervene in Manus Island crisis (SMH, 1 November 2017). Lawyers representing the refugees are hoping PNG's Supreme Court will re-open the detention centre, that the government might re-open it voluntarily, or that PNG might strike a deal with NZ, who have re-iterated their offer to take 150 of the refugees.
Manus navy will remove detainees by force if necessary, base commander says (GA, 2 November 2017). Happily, however, he is in no rush to take action. Acting Chief Migration Officer Solomon Kantha is also pursuing solutions, such as the installation of fences and security at the new accommodations.
Manus Island asylum seekers digging to find water as stand-off continues (ABC, 2 November 2017)
'Disgusting': Liberal Party elder statesman condemns government over Manus standoff (The New Daily, 1 November 2017). Former Liberal Party leader John Hewson: "[The government has] known for a long time what’s going to happen with Manus. They basically just sit back on all these issues and let them drift. Kick them down the road the best they can. They don’t resolve them, they get bigger and more difficult as they drift."
Manus Island stand-off continues, Greens say asylum seekers stripped of mental health medications (ABC, 1 November 2017) About a fifth of the men are on meds for mental illness, including depression and PTSD. Stopping those medications suddenly can have a savage effect on the body and mind and is potentially deadly. If mine were taken away, I would be at risk for seizures and suicide, as well as depression, mania, panic, and sudden fits of rage. And I'm not surrounded by guns and machetes.
Manus Island: UN says new accommodation 'not ready' for refugees (GA, 1 November 2017). UNHCR rep Nat Jit Lam, inspected the West Lorengau site: "There was still major earthworks in progress. There was heavy machinery on the ground as well, fences still being constructed." Green Senator Nick McKim says there is a shortage of about 150 beds in the new accommodation.
Pleas for New Zealand, Papua New Guinea to intervene in Manus Island crisis (SMH, 1 November 2017). Lawyers representing the refugees are hoping PNG's Supreme Court will re-open the detention centre, that the government might re-open it voluntarily, or that PNG might strike a deal with NZ, who have re-iterated their offer to take 150 of the refugees.
Manus navy will remove detainees by force if necessary, base commander says (GA, 2 November 2017). Happily, however, he is in no rush to take action. Acting Chief Migration Officer Solomon Kantha is also pursuing solutions, such as the installation of fences and security at the new accommodations.
Manus Island asylum seekers digging to find water as stand-off continues (ABC, 2 November 2017)
'Disgusting': Liberal Party elder statesman condemns government over Manus standoff (The New Daily, 1 November 2017). Former Liberal Party leader John Hewson: "[The government has] known for a long time what’s going to happen with Manus. They basically just sit back on all these issues and let them drift. Kick them down the road the best they can. They don’t resolve them, they get bigger and more difficult as they drift."
