Manus Island Detention Centre
The Manus Island Detention Centre, officially known as the Manus Regional Processing Centre, was a controversial Australian immigration detention facility located on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. It was part of the Australian Government's policy known as Operation Sovereign Borders aimed at deterring maritime arrivals of asylum seekers to Australia.
History and Operation
The concept of offshore processing on Manus Island dates back to the 1960s, as noted by University of Sydney immigration law specialist Professor Mary Crock. However, it was not until the early 2000s and more intensively from 2012, under the government's deterrence policies, that Manus became a prominent site for processing asylum seekers arriving by boat.
The facility was officially closed as a detention centre at the end of 2017 following extensive legal and human rights challenges. The Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea ruled in April 2016 that detaining asylum seekers on Manus was illegal, which increased pressure on the Australian government to close the centre.
Notable Incidents and Controversies
The centre faced significant controversies during its operation, including reports of human rights abuses and inadequate living conditions. An investigation led by Robert Cornall into allegations of sexual abuse highlighted some of the severe issues within the facility.
Tragically, the centre gained further notoriety following the death of 24-year-old Iranian asylum seeker Hamid Kehazaei. Kehazaei sought medical help for an infected wound but could not receive adequate treatment on the island, leading to his death, which sparked debate over the adequacy of medical care provided to detainees.
Cultural Impact
The Manus Island Detention Centre has also been a subject in various cultural and artistic expressions, notably through the work of Behrouz Boochani, an Iranian-Kurdish journalist and asylum seeker who was detained there. Boochani's writings and his co-authored film, "Chauka, Please Tell Us the Time," shot within the centre, brought international attention to the hardships faced by detainees.
The story of Jaivet Ealom, the only known person to have escaped from the facility, also highlighted the extreme conditions and desperation experienced by those detained.
Closure and Aftermath
After its closure, contracts were given to Paladin Holdings and NKW Holdings to maintain the camp facilities, which were terminated on 30 November 2019. The closure marked the end of a significant, albeit controversial, chapter in Australia's approach to handling asylum seekers.