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West Papuans don't want asylum in PNG

Seven West Papuans deported to Papua New Guinea by Australia say they will not claim asylum there, and will hold Australia responsible for their fate if they are sent back to Indonesia.

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West Papuan activist Yacob Mandabayan (centre) in PNG.

Seven West Papuans deported to Papua New Guinea by Australia say they will not claim asylum there, and will hold Australia responsible for their fate if they are sent back to Indonesia. 

The group, including a pregnant woman and 10 year old boy, arrived in Australia's Torres Strait via PNG about two weeks ago.

A bilateral deportation deal between the two countries was overridden allowing Australia to sent them to Port Moresby, where authorities set a deadline of today to lodge a claim.

Indonesia has brutally suppressed the independence movement in its West Papuan provinces since 1969 and the seven say they fear for their lives.

Yacob Mandabayan from the group told Stefan Armbruster they do not feel safe in PNG and want asylum in Australia.

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1 min read

Published

Updated

By Stefan Armbruster


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