The fortnight-long hunger strike on Manus Island continues, though some compounds have decided to end the protest, and some detainees have begun life outside the wire.
There were more arrests on Australia Day as security swept Foxtrot and Mike compounds, seizing mobile phones and taking away suspected “ringleaders” in the protests.
Fifty-eight detainees are already being held in Lorengau jail by Papua New Guinea police. It is unclear whether they have been, or will be, charged with any offence.
In Mike compound, where the protest first started 14 days ago, men began eating late on Monday night. But detainees in Foxtrot said they would continue their protest.
“They took everything which belonged to the hunger-strikers which include all fans and sheets, and personal property. At the moment we have laid on the concrete ground without any blanket or sheet under us and it is very hot.
“They are trying to break our peaceful hunger strike but we will continue our way which ends to our goal that is freedom,” one detainee said on Monday.
One of the first six men released from Manus Island detention centre to live in the community in nearby Lorengau has told the ABC he is pleased to be out of detention, and says he is happy living “outside” in PNG.
“After a long time living in detention, around 18 months, absolutely I am very, very happy that I could leave [the detention centre],” Iranian Reza Mollaghlipour said.
More than 50 men have been granted refugee status, but many have said they will refuse to be moved to the brand-new $138m Australian-built Refugee Transit Centre, designed as temporary accommodation before refugees are moved to other places in PNG.
Australia has warned detainees they will be forcibly removed to the transit centre if they resist. The detainees argue they will not be safe living in the community – citing previous violence between local staff and detainees – but locals argue reports of tension are overblown.
In both of Australia’s foreign offshore detention centres, detainees were acutely aware of Australia Day and held protests to mark the occasion.
On Manus, where more than 1,000 men are held, detainees made a sign wishing Australians “Happy Australia Day … and wishes of happiness, prosperity, and enjoyment of freedom”.
On Nauru, where 760 adults and 135 children are held in detention, asylum seekers staged a protest, holding up signs reading “how many deaths does it take till you know that the people are dying at offshore detentions” and “stop using people for policies”.
