Transcript
Loghman Sawari: From that camp I went to Lae because Immigration told me, we're going to send you there and we find for you a school. I went to Lae and Immigration they find for me accommodation in China Town. China Town is a dangerous place. More than two times I saw the Raskol come and steal things from other people. I complained to Immigration. I told them if it's not safe, why you bring me here? I need security. I cannot stay here because it's not safe for me. Then I left that accommodation because it's not safe for me. I went to (Seventh) Day Adventist and at the church they helped me to stay there. I stayed for more than one month there and then I tried to contact Immigration, but they don't want me to go back to Manus. I told them Lae is not safe I have to go back to Manus. The Immigration, they say no you have to stay here because you are settled already. I am a lucky guy because I find some good people to stay with with some street boys. Those street boys they help me to find food and find a place in Lae.
Ben Robinson Drawbridge: You asked to go back to Manus and they said no but you tried to go back anyway, didn't you?
LS: Yes, I went to Manus and they closed the gate. I sleep outside the gate. They don't allow me to go inside the camp. Then they put me in a guest house. Every day they came and they said you have to go back to Lae. I tell them I cannot go back to Lae. Every day they do some punishment with me. They tell them, don't give him food, nor any allowance to buy credit to call my parents. No nothing. They say you have to go back. They do a lot of punishment with me. That was Immigration of PNG. After a few days I tell them no I don't want to go and I went back to camp. I went with my friend his name is Abdul Latif. When I came to camp they bring the police and they arrest me and him and they put me in that police station again. I asked Immigration, what my crime? What I did? I want to go inside with other pepole if I'm refugee. From the jail I went to that same accommodation that Immigration provided for me. I find some people, they say okay, we know your story we will help you to go outside of Manus and you will enjoy. I tell them okay. They took me to one island next to Indonesia for two weeks. When I see that island is not safe for me I came back again to Manus. They say okay, now you can go back to camp if you want and they send me to camp again. After that JDA, one of the companies, they say you want to to Port Moresby? I tell them no I don't want. Next night, I went with one of my cousins to a (night) club. For first time in my life I go to club. When we came back from the club I see one car, a big car. Ten people they come in, they beat me and they steal my phone. The next day I was very scared. The JDA man he knows about this thing and he says okay, you want to go now to Moresby? I tell him yes. I am tired of Manus now because last night I get beat and they steal my phone, a group of local people. Those locals they get support from PNG Immigration. Those people they are living next to detention camp. They live there and they work in the camp and some of those they're Immigration. They beat beat me on that night and they stole my phone.
BRD: So they were trying to scare you to leave Manus?
LS: Yes, that's right, to live in Moresby. I told them okay. Next day, I told them I am ready to go. The Immigration they provide for me ticket and they send me to Moresby. They find for me accommodation, they call the place Gerehu. Gerehu is not safe also. When I talk to land owner of that house he say why they bring you here? This area is not safe for you and I cannot help you if someone beat you outside. I was four months in that house and every day they tell me "white man". Every day they tell me "give me smoke." I tell them I'm not smoking.
BRD: Were they beating you? Were they hurting you?
LS: Yes, many times. I told them, I have to give you guys tax? I am just refugee. When they stole my key I report to Immigration office. I told them those people they stole my key and I cannot go back to that accommodation. It's not safe Gerehu and you have to provide for me security. They say no. They say it's your problem. Again I left. I went to stay with my friend. I stayed with him for two months and then I find smugglers. I told them to do for me passport. They do for me a local passport. When I try to go to New Zealand or other country I cannot because they need visa. Then I talked to some local people. They said you can go to Fiji. Some family in Australia and my family also and I have some things I sold them and I get money and I come to Fiji.
Loghman Sawari has been in Fiji for a week and has been taken in by a family.
He has a Fijian lawyer who will help him to apply for asylum.
