Letters sent to refugees by (Papua New Guinea), Papua New Guinea, pictures of the. (SBS Broadcasting Corporation)
Papua New Guinea`s (Papua New Guinea) authorities ordered refugees occupying the (Manus Island) detention centre on Manus Island to leave within 48 hours Thursday morning, the SBS broadcaster reported. Otherwise, it would not rule out the use of force to expel them.
Australia`s refugee centre on Manus Island is known to have closed last week after a water blackout and no food supply, but about 600 refugees refused to leave.
At about 11:00 local time Thursday, Papua New Guinea`s authorities sent a letter to refugees occupying detention centres asking them to leave automatically, otherwise forced evictions will be carried out.
The letter says the new home will provide food, water, electricity and other services. If refugees insist on being in their original place, it will be detrimental to their health and well-being. On the 9th, the relevant authorities will remove the fence and the safety of the refugees will not be guaranteed.
The letter also mentions that if refugees continue to remain in their original detention centres, the authorities do not rule out the use of force for forced evictions.
At present, the stalemate at Manus Island Refugee Center is likely to escalate into a violent confrontation.
One refugee said they were scared but refused to leave.
Peter O`Neill, Papua New Guinea`s prime minister, said in a statement on Wednesday that the Manus Island Refugee Centre, which had been set up for asylum applications, had now completed its mission and that refugees there needed to move to a new resettlement centre.
