Papua New Guinea Court has ruled that the Australian Detention Center holding 850 people is unconstitutional. According to the judges, the detention on Manus Island violates the personal liberty of the asylum seekers in Australia.
Australia detains asylums on the small Pacific island under its offshore processing policy, according to BBC. Five PNG judges said that detention of the asylum seekers violates section 42 of the constitution that assure personal liberty. According to them, all means must be taken to stop the Australian Detention Center from detaining asylum seekers. There are nearly 850 asylums in the islands and half were designated as refugees.
"Both the Australian and Papua New Guinea governments shall forthwith take all steps necessary to cease and prevent the continued unconstitutional and illegal detention of the asylum seekers or transfers at the relocation center on Manus Island and the continued breach of the asylum seekers or transferees constitutional and human rights," the ruling states.
In response to the PNG ruling, Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claimed that people who come to Australia illegally won't be welcomed in Australia, The Atlantic reports. He added, PNG's decision is only an issue with the PNG government and not with Australia.
Almost 15 years ago, the Australian Detention Center was opened as part of Australia's "Pacific Solution." The facility in Manus island is managed by contractors. However, migrants were rallying over the condition of the facility and the detainees. In 2014, a demonstration led to a riot that killed an Iranian migrant.
In the other news, PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said in a statement that he would like the Australian Detention center to be shut down as it only affects his country's reputation. He also claimed that the Australian government has to decide on that matter.
The Australian government spent $342.5 million or 444 million Australian dollars to operate the facility on Manus island last year, WSJ claims. The United Nations and human-rights groups have disapproved the center's operation. The place was called as Australia's Guantanamo Bay by the rights groups.
Until now the local and international human rights groups are protesting over the Australian Detention Center. They alleged that the center keeps details of the actual detention conditions as well as towing boats loaded with asylums. There are also reports of sexual abuse of children that only led to more protest and even suicide attempts by the detainees.
