{"id":3675,"date":"2015-01-18T13:06:59","date_gmt":"2015-01-18T02:06:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/refugeeaction.org.au\/?p=3675"},"modified":"2015-01-18T13:06:59","modified_gmt":"2015-01-18T02:06:59","slug":"manus-witch-hunt-for-protest-leaders-stop-the-22-january-transfers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/refugeeaction.org.au\/?p=3675","title":{"rendered":"Manus witch hunt for protest leaders. Stop the 22 January transfers"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an attempt to break up the hunger strike protest, Transfield officers have begun rounding up asylum seekers\u2019 compound leaders.<\/p>\n

At least four leaders of different nationalities \u2013 one from Mike, one from Oscar, and two from Foxtrot – have been seized and taken to the high security Chauka isolation unit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Up to 40 Transfield riot squad officers raided the Foxtrot compound around 1.00am this morning (Sunday 18 January), looking for other community leaders.<\/p>\n

The riot squad also attempted to force water down the throat of two unconscious asylum seekers in the compound. They also threatened that a special forces unit will come from Port Moresby \u2018to deal with you\u2019 unless the hunger strike was ended by this morning.<\/p>\n

Foxtrot asylum seekers have sent another letter explaining that PNG is not safe and appealing to the Minister to halt the forced transfers of asylum seekers on 22 January (photos attached).<\/p>\n

\u201cTaking leaders hostage or using the riot squad won\u2019t stop the hunger strike protest,\u201d said Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition. \u201cThe tactics are eerily similar to those that ended in tragedy in February last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Minister has said he supports \u2018discussion and negotiations\u2019. He must act urgently to prevent a tragedy on Manus Island.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713 or Chris Breen 0403 013 183<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In an attempt to break up the hunger strike protest, Transfield officers have begun rounding up asylum seekers\u2019 compound leaders. At least four leaders of different nationalities \u2013 one from Mike, one from Oscar, and two from Foxtrot – have been seized and taken to the high security Chauka isolation unit. Up to 40 Transfield […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":311091,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-press-releases"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t