Australia to close controversial Manus Island refugee camp

Australia and Papua New Guineasaid on Wednesday they had agreed to close a controversialAustralian-funded asylum seeker detention centre on ManusIsland, but gave no timeline, leaving the fate of 800 refugeesheld in the camp unclear.

Under Australian law, anyone intercepted trying to reach thecountry by boat is sent for processing to camps on the tinyPacific island of Nauru or to Manus Island off Papua New Guinea.They are never eligible to be resettled in Australia.

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Some asylum seekers have spent years in the camps, whichhave been criticized by the United Nations and human rightsgroups, with numerous reports of abuse and self-harm amongdetainees, including children.

Noone from Manus Island will ever besettled in Australia.Australian Immigration Minister PeterDutton

The announcement came after a newspaper published leakeddocuments detailing more than 2,000 incidents of sexual abuse,assault and attempted self-harm reported over two years at theNauru detention centre.

The harsh conditions and reports of systemic child abuse atthe camps have drawn wide criticism at home and abroad.

Some in Papua New Guinea are unhappy with the prospect ofhundreds of asylum seekers being resettled into their countryand there have been reports of asylum seekers being attacked bylocals.

"Both Papua New Guinea and Australia are in agreement thatthe centre is to be closed," Papua New Guinea Prime MinisterPeter O'Neill said in a statement.

"A series of options are being advanced and implemented. Itis important that this process is not rushed out but carried outin a careful manner." There was no mention of a closing date.

No mention of Nauru

Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, who met withO'Neill on Wednesday to discuss the camp, reiterated Australia'sposition that it would not accept any of the refugees detainedin Papua New Guinea.

"It has been the longstanding position of this government towork with PNG to close Manus and support those people as theytransition into PNG or return to their country of origin,"Dutton said in a statement.

"Our position, confirmed again today with PNG, is that noone from Manus Island Regional Processing Centre will ever besettled in Australia."

Dutton made no mention of the detainees on Nauru.

Australia says the policy is needed to stop asylum seekersdying at sea on the dangerous boat journey from Indonesia toAustralia. Hundreds of people died attempting the trip in theyears before the policy was put in place.

The move was immediately welcomed by refugee advocates.

"Nearly a thousand men on Manus have already lost three ormore years of their lives locked up in limbo for no goodreason," Elaine Pearson, Australia Director for Human RightsWatch, said in a statement.

"They've endured dirty, cramped conditions, inadequatemedical care and violence. Finally, it is time to let them moveon with their lives in safety and dignity."

• Refugee speaks from inside Papua New Guinea's detention camp