5 Jan 2017

Asylum seekers on Manus must respect local laws, police

8:40 am on 5 January 2017

Police in Papua New Guinea are calling on asylum seekers detained at the Australian detention camp on Manus Island to respect local laws.

The Post Courier newspaper reports Provincial Police Commander Senior Inspector David Yapu made the call after the arrest of three more asylum seekers on Monday night for alleged drunk and disorderly behaviour in Lorengau town.

This follows an earlier violent confrontation between two asylum seekers and immigration officials and police on New Years eve.

Although the earlier pair were charged with drunken and disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest they claim they were victims of an unprovoked attack by drunk police and immigration officials.

Provincial police commander David Yapu said he would not tolerate such behaviour and nonsense from foreigners stressing that the law is for everyone to abide by.

At least 900 asylum seekers and refugees continue to reside on Manus since the Australian run detention centre was declared illegal by the PNG supreme court.

Meanwhile there is still no clarity over a resettlement deal struck between Australia and the United States for refugees held in offshore processing centres.