Two Iranian asylum seekers in their mid-20s have attempted suicide on Manus Island, after reading comments by the PNG government lawyer, Ian Molloy.
Molloy was part of a group inspecting the detention centre facilities as part of the PNG National Court enquiry into the Manus Island detention camp and the attacks on asylum seekers on 17 February.
Molloy was reported as saying that ‘the asylum seekers appeared clean, clothed and healthy.’
At lunchtime, the two asylum seekers from Foxtrot compound went to the washroom and cut themselves.
The self-harm attempts followed another attempted hanging last night after an asylum seeker returned from “quarantine”.
The attempted suicides are a dramatic indication of the despair that surrounds the Manus camp.
“Politically motivated comments about the apparent ‘health’ of asylum seekers who have been the victims of brutal attacks will only deepen the suspicion and frustration of the asylum seekers. Molloy’s comments give little confidence that the PNG government is concerned to make an independent assessment of the conditions in the Manus camp,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
