Transcript
The Kurdish journalist and detainee Behrouz Boochani says about 60 men were transfered to Port Moresby earlier this month and another 30 were moved on Tuesday morning.
He says the men have been told they're being transferred for medical treatment, but not all of them are sick.
"And I have some information from a reliable source that they will transfer about 60 [more] refugees next week and leave them without any protection. They wan't to continue this political game in PNG cities."
A Port Moresby lawyer representing detainees, Ben Lomai, says he's concerned the men are being dumped in the PNG capital.
"As I understand, once they are here in Port Moresby they won't be able to return back to Manus, and after three weeks they will not be able to get financial assistance from the Australian government anymore.
"So that's put a lot of pressure on them as to how they are going to survive in the city, especially as Port Moresby is very expensive."
Ben Lomai says businesses in Port Moresby have been asked to find work for the men as the PNG government is not in a position to support them.
"PNG is incapable, we still have debts to pay, how are we going to maintain all of these asylum seekers and refugees here?
"So we've got a problem on our hands, that's why they're looking for employment opportunities. That is because they are trying to ask them to stay back in the country to work and fend for themselves. But as you know, none of the asylum seekers want to stay in PNG."
Daily protests have continued for almost a month in the Manus Island detention centre, with refugees demonstrating against the centre's gradual closure and restrictions to power, water and phone services.
The detainees are afraid they'll be left in PNG, a fear shared by the government, whose attorney general has called on Australia to halt the demolition.
But while the Australian government refuses to allow about 2000 detainees on Nauru and Manus to be brought back to Australia, Canberra's territorial assembly is calling for their return.
A motion seeking an end to Australia's offshore detention regime passed the ACT assembly last week after being introduced by the Green's Shane Rattenbury.
"There were no votes against the motion when it came before the assembly. I was encouraged by that. I think it reflects the fact that our community is one that is embarrassed by what the Australian government is doing.
"It could be suggested that the Australian government is simply seeking to wash its hands of responsibility for these people. I don't think that is appropriate. We cannot make this Papua New Guinea's problem."
Shane Rattenbury says it's unfair and irresponsible of the Australian government to wash its hands of Manus Island detainees and to make them PNG's problem.