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More asylum seekers arrive on Manus

Friday's arrival of asylum seekers on Manus Island marks the second intake since Australia and PNG announced it's regional processing scheme.

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A second group of asylum seekers have landed on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island as part of Australia's tough border protection policy.

The 39 single Iranian men landed at Manus' Momote airport on Friday morning, following an overnight flight from Christmas Island and a brief refuelling stop in Darwin.

Two G4S security guards accompanied each man on the short walk between the plane and one of two small busses, which will take them to the facility.

Each detainee was given a small meal on the bus and some held up their ID cards and waved to the press.

One asylum seeker, shouting over the noise of the plane, told journalists his family was in Brisbane.

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"We don't want to come here," he said.

"We want to go to Australia."

The men will join 66 others being housed in a refugee processing facility on Manus' Lombrum naval base.

The day before, 40 men of mostly Iranian and Afghan origin were sent to the island, which sits just two degrees from the equator.

Friday's arrival of asylum seekers marks the second intake since Australia and PNG announced it's controversial regional processing scheme.

Australia has erected large marquee tents capable of sleeping up to 30.

Industrial-sized kitchens will also be installed at the facility.

PNG's opposition has launched a constitutional challenge against the scheme, months after an earlier challenge was dismissed.

More arrivals are expected in the coming weeks.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



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