A new legal challenge will be launched for failed asylum seekers on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.
While the recent settlement by the Australian government provides some financial compensation for men held on Manus, for many it will come too late, as deportations continue and conditions at the camp worsen daily.
The action, by a well-known and respected law firm, will initially represent dozens of men with failed refugee status determinations but more are expected to come on board.
Tasmanian Refugee activist Anne Moon has been instrumental in helping the men to initiate the legal challenge.
“Many of these men only failed Refugee Status Determination because they refused to participate in the process,” Ms Moon said.
“They sought refuge from Australia but were forcibly removed to Papua New Guinea.
“The others were unsuccessful for a number of reasons that we believe are tied to the process used rather than their validity as people in need of refuge from religious and political persecution, and war.
“Manus Island Regional Processing Centre has the highest rate of mental ill-health of any population surveyed by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
“Some of these men have been refused refugee status because of the effects of trauma related to experiences from the country they fled, and their long-term incarceration on Manus.
“As a result, they face being returned to their countries where torture, persecution and death are real possibilities.
“These men sought help from Australia and as an Australian I will do what I can to see they have access to justice.
“I ask anyone with an interest in upholding human rights to donate any amount they can to help these men have their day in court.”
The legal challenge represents a small number of the 170 men presently detained who were unsuccessful in gaining asylum status.
It is the only legal case to date to attempt to represent more than one individual but is not a class action.
The closure and demolition of the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre by October 31 has made the case even more urgent, Ms Moon said.
“There is constant pressure on them to return to their countries with notices posted around the centre advising people to make travel arrangements.
“Each week it is restated to the men that they must go home and forced deportations have already begun.”
An intensive campaign is currently underway to raise funds for the case, through popular crowd-funding site Chuffed.org
To donate go to chuffed.org/project/urgent-legal-defence-for-manus-men
Dr Helen Merrick, Cygnet, https://justice4manus.wixsite.com/website
