Australia: Protest Movement of Refugees Comes to an End

Australian and Papua New Guinean officials have announced the end of protests by refugees in the camps, but reports indicate that some refugees continue their hunger strike. On Tuesday, January 30, French news agency reported statements from Tony Abbott, the Prime Minister of Australia, emphasizing that the hunger strike of refugees who had cut off access to the Manus camp has been broken and security forces have been able to enter the camp. Hundreds of refugees on Manus Island have stated that they continue their hunger strike, while the health condition of some of them is severely deteriorating due to the heat in Papua New Guinea. He stated: 'Protests in some parts of the Manus center were well organized, to the extent that they took the form of a siege. This siege has now been broken.' Protests on Manus Island, one of the provinces of Papua New Guinea, began last week, during which hundreds of protesting refugees went on hunger strike against their living conditions. Reports also indicate that some protesters have sewn their lips shut, and at least seven have attempted suicide by swallowing razor blades and laundry powder, with no reports on their fate. However, on Tuesday, some international media, including The Guardian, reported that security forces entered the Manus camp using force and broke the siege, which contradicts statements from Matayo Rabura, a senior official of the Papua New Guinea Immigration Department. Reuters, citing Australian media, reported that Mr. Rabura stated that security forces negotiated with the protesters and then peacefully broke the siege of the Manus camp. On the other hand, Peter Dutton, the Australian Minister of Immigration, confirmed the use of force during the breaking of the Manus camp siege. However, this Australian official emphasized that there was no excessive use of force and it did not lead to clashes between police and protesters. Mr. Dutton also confirmed that some protesters are still on hunger strike and have refused to drink water and eat food. The British publication The Guardian reported on Tuesday that hundreds of refugees on Manus Island have stated that they continue their hunger strike, while the health condition of some of them is severely deteriorating due to the heat in Papua New Guinea. Previously, the UN Committee Against Torture emphasized that the conditions of refugees that Australia places in Manus and Nauru Islands constitute a form of 'cruel, inhuman, and illegal' punishment.