A significant proportion of that cohort on Manus is from Iran, a country which refuses to accept forcible repatriations. “PNG’s concern is about the residual caseload of refugees not willing to resettle and non-refugees who will continue to remain in the country after the closure of the Manus regional processing centre at Lombrum,” the statement said. PNG currently had no obligation under the current arrangement and Australia will continue to be responsible. PNG’s police commissioner, Gari Baki, has warned of possible violence, saying the safety of refugees and workers at the centre “is not to be taken for granted”. Australian government officials and ministers have consistently maintained that the arrangements of offshore processing are “matters for the government of PNG and Nauru”.

Source: The Guardian October 29, 2017 20:03 UTC