By MALUM NALU
THE Manus detention centre for asylum seekers will be closed by the end of the year, according to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
However, neither he nor Prime Minister Peter O’Neill could say with certainty what would happen to the asylum seekers. Turnbull thanked O’Neill for his government’s continued support in the campaign against people smuggling. “We will continue to work together to close the regional processing centre by the end of the year,” he said.
The Australian prime minister thanked O’Neill “for Papua New Guinea’s significant progress on the resettlement of refugees” on Manus.
On the issue of resettlement, O’Neill said he would be guided by the Australian government on the arrangement reached with the United States.
“If we can resettle many of the refugees to a third country like the US in the future, we welcome that,” he said.
Turnbull said the two leaders had discussed the resettlement issue.
“As you know, there is a resettlement process of assessment, with resettlement in the US underway,” he said. “We look forward to the completion of that work by the US.”
Asked how many asylum seekers would be resettled in PNG, O’Neill said: “There are already some refugees who have been resettled in PNG.
“Many of our local businesses have tried to take up as many of the professionals who are able to work in PNG. But as you know, many of the refugees are not willing to settle in PNG. You can’t force people in the resettlement exercise when they are not able to accept our offer. But if a third country is willing to accept their resettlement, we are quite happy to participate.”
Source www.thenational.com.pg
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