Time to protect our sovereignty

LAST July when Prime Mi­nister Peter O’Neill and his then Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd signed the refugee resettlement arrangement for asylum seekers to be detained on Manus Island, we said that Papua New Guineans had been left holding the raw guts of a problem not of their making.
We are still of the view that O’Neill had allowed himself to be misled by his “good mate” and that the refugee resettlement arrangement was a “like it or lump it” deal that can only be described as a massive victory for Australia.
Interestingly, the controversial deal was not enough to save Rudd’s political career as he was unceremoniously dumped by the Australian voters several weeks later in September.
New Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott kept his word to maintain the Manus detention centre and aside from a few hiccups, there has not been any drama until last Sunday night when a protest by the asylum seekers turned ugly.
Australia’s Immigration and Border Protection Minister Scott Morrison confirmed the disturbance in a brief media statement on Monday.
“I am advised that staff are reported safe and accounted for and that the centre is reported to be calm. It is reported Papua New Guinea police have arrested a number of transferees in relation to the incident. Service providers have reported a number of transferees have received medical attention and that there has been some minor property damage to the centre.”
There were conflicting reports about the Sunday night incident, with Manus MP Ronny Knight denying that asylum seekers had set fires to the detention centre, causing damage and injuring people.
Troubled flared up again on Monday night with reports confirming that one person had died and about 70 others were injured.
Morrision issued another statement yesterday. “I am advised that there has been a further and more serious incident at the Manus Island processing centre overnight involving transferees breaching internal and external perimeter fences at the centre. I am advised non-essential staff were evacuated as a precautionary measure last night prior to any escalation of these events, when low level demonstrations resumed. The extent and nature of the subsequent events and perimeter breaches is still being verified.”
Morrison said that PNG police did not enter the centre and that their activities related only to dealing with transferees who breached the external perimeter.
His statement was confirmed by Police Minister Nixon Duban, who assured Parliament yesterday that policemen were not to blame for the death.
Meanwhile, O’Neill described the incident as “most regrettable” but says he remains committed to the refugee settlement arrangement. “I spoke to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott this afternoon about this incident, and we both agree with the measures taken to address this situation. I assured Mr Abbott that PNG remains committed to the resettlement programme, and finding a lasting solution to the global challenge of human smuggling and illegal trafficking of persons in the region.”
Abbott had told ABC Radio on Monday that Australia will not accept refugees who came through the back door. “We are a beacon – a beacon of freedom and decency and generosity – but we cannot allow people to take advantage of our generosity in this way. If they’re going to come to Australia, they should come through the proper channels and not through the back door.”
It is rather obvious the Australian and PNG governments will not be deterred from pursuing their hard line stance against asylum seekers, even if some of them are killed or injured while protesting against the inhuman treatment that has become the shame of such detention facilities.
While it is the prerogative of the PNG Government to support Australia by keeping the asylum seekers locked away on Manus Island, O’Neill should be mindful of the negative perception that is being portrayed by this ugly incident on our country.
Nonetheless, PNG should not sacrifice its sovereignty by allowing its land of the unexpected to be used as a dumping ground for all sorts of things, from greasy lamb flaps and cheap merchandise to illegal asylum seekers.