The Refugee Action Coalition condemns the Immigration Department\u2019s new announced transfer of 25 single male asylum seekers to Manus Island.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government doesn\u2019t even have the courage to say how many of the 25 are unaccompanied minors, although the use of children\u2019s services officers suggest there are minors among those expelled,\u201d said spokesperson Ian Rintoul.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat the Immigration Minister who is the guardian for all under-age unaccompanied asylum seekers would send a minor to Manus Island simply beggars belief. He can\u2019t even say how long they will be on Manus Island, although the experience will cruel their education opportunities and potentially scar them for life,\u201d Rintoul said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike a broken record, the government keeps insisting that the transfer of minors \u2018\u2026reaffirms the strong message of deterrence\u2019, although everyone knows it is no such thing. Over 8000 asylum seekers have arrived since 13 August, yet the government continues to select a tiny number to be especially mistreated on Nauru or Manus Island. No amount of references to the Expert Panel can excuse the government for its deliberate mistreatment of people on Manus Island. The recommendations of the Expert Panel were rendered obsolete months ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cChris Bowen has turned the \u2018no advantage test\u2019 into a positive disadvantage test. Instead of one rule for all asylum seekers who have arrived since 13 August, he punishes a tiny minority for no reason at all. Other asylum seekers who arrived after 13 August will be released on bridging visas to live in the Australian community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe single men will be housed in tents and shipping containers in a camp that has totally inadequate education facilities. The Minister is imposing a life sentence on them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, other asylum seekers on Manus Island have rejected the Immigration Department\u2019s reply to their letter of complaint.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018It [the department letter] has made us disappointed and sad. We did not get an answer to our questions,\u2019\u201d one Manus Island asylum seeker told the Refugee Action Coalition. \u201cOne lady collapsed from the stress after she was told about the letter and had to be carried to the medical centre. We will have other protests.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Department\u2019s letter admits that there is no refugee processing arrangements in place but they may \u201c\u2026commence in early 2013\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cRather than maintain the farce of the Pacific Solution 2.0, the government should close the costly and inhumane hell-holes of Manus Island and Nauru,\u201d said Ian Rintoul.<\/p>\n