Seven teenagers assaulted by Wilson Guards during a protest on Nauru on Wednesday night (6 April) have lodged a complaint (see here) with authorities on Nauru.
A complaint signed by at least 75 other asylum seekers in the family compound has also been handed to authorities at the camp. (See here).
The complaints and the photos put the lie to the denial by the Minister Peter Dutton that children were either involved or assaulted by guards on Wednesday night (6 April) in the Nauru family camp.
Another photo of the bruised arm of the mother of one of the teenage boys (see photo) has also emerged as more evidence of the force used by Wilson guards during the protest.
“The evidence that children were involved and were hit by Wilson guards on Wednesday night is confirmed by photographs and by the complaints signed by the teenagers and by scores of adult witnesses,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
“It is not the first time that the Minister has been loose with the truth. No matter how many times he denies it, there is no resettlement arrangement with Nauru. The deal with Cambodia is a failed political fix, too.
“The Minister’s excuses and cover-ups for the abuses on Nauru get weaker and weaker. There are hundreds of asylum seekers from Nauru in Australia because Nauru is not safe and asylum seekers and refugees cannot be properly cared for.
“The Australian government brought them here and families are now in community detention. It is shamefully inconsistent and hypocritical for the government to do one thing in Australia and another on Nauru and Manus.
“It is time to end the hell of offshore detention.”
More protests are planned for this afternoon (Friday, 8 April) at the gates of the family camp. It will be the 20th consecutive day of protests at the family camp.
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
