Scores of refugees 'arrested on Nauru', Refugee Action Coalition says

Scores of refugees on Nauru have been arrested after continuing protests, Australian refugee advocates claim.

Nauru protest

The Refugee Action Coalition says up to 150 refugees, including a family with children, were taken into police custody on Wednesday. (AAP Image/ Ian Rintoul)

Scores of refugees on Nauru have been arrested after continuing protests, Australian refugee advocates claim.

The Refugee Action Coalition says up to 150 refugees, including a family with children, were taken into police custody on Wednesday.

Spokesman Ian Rintoul said a 13-year-old had been arrested as a protest leader while two female refugees collapsed with panic attacks following the arrests and have been taken to hospital.

SBS has not been able to independently verify the claims. 

Refugees on Nauru live in the community, while asylum seekers live in detention centre camps, as they are still waiting for their refugee statues to be determined. A group of refugees staged a series of public demonstrations over the weekend, protesting their resettlement and living conditions on the island. 

They say they are "being treated like slaves" by the Nauru and Australian governments.

The Nauru government has criticised Australian-based refugee groups, which it says have stirred up trouble on the island.

Local freelance photographer Clint Deidenang has been following the protests on Nauru, posting on social media that tensions were "boiling" to a new level.
Comment has been sought from the Nauru government and Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton.

Lyall Mercer, whose Brisbane-based company provides public relations services to the Nauru government, arrived on the island on Wednesday afternoon and is meeting with the police chief.

Mr Mercer said about 40 adult refugees were arrested on Wednesday, in addition to the 10 who were arrested last week and charged with inciting violence and unlawful assembly.

"The majority of refugees do not want to be involved in the protests, but we've got a few troublemakers," he told AAP.

There was a stand-off on Wednesday afternoon between police, including the island's riot squad, and a group of 20 to 30 male refugees blocking a road, he said.

Police this week gave refugees guidelines on lawful protesting, but those warnings had been ignored.

Mr Mercer said the refugees had a grievance with the Australian government because they had not been resettled on the mainland.

"That clearly has nothing to do with Nauru, which has given them a safe place to stay," he said.

 


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Source: AAP

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