PNG police have arrested award winning journalist and Manus detainee, @BehrouzBoochani.
Behrouz’s last tweet before being arrested:
Peter Dutton stop propaganda against https://t.co/blgYw5Elt7 created this situation and you are responsible. You are lying to people that you built new accommodation. Those places are real prison, stop using ppl for your political benefits.
— Behrouz Boochani (@BehrouzBoochani) November 23, 2017
During the arrest fellow detainee, Abdul Aziz Adam (@Aziz58825713) tweeted:
They are looking for me and Behrouz they found him but they are not going to find me. These are police are taking Behrouz. pic.twitter.com/G01bA46ETC
— Abdul Aziz Adam (@Aziz58825713) November 23, 2017
Journalists union, Media Enterainment Arts Alliance said in a statement:
Behrouz has been one of the main sources of factual information about conditions inside the Manus Island detention centre for the past few years, and his reporting has been published in Australia and internationally
His reporting in the finest traditions of journalism has been critical when the Australian and PNG governments have done everything they can to prevent media from having access to the asylum seekers on Manus Island
Without Behrouz’s courageous reporting at great personal risk, the world would be less informed about the crisis on Manus Island
Detainee Kaleem (@Manusisland) posted images online showing a refugee with injuries:
Help us they are beating us pic.twitter.com/dMEZbr3kwU
— Kaleem (@Manusisland) November 23, 2017
Earlier in the day as tensions were rising there were reports two detainees collapsed and their need for medical assistance was ignored by police and immigration officials.
— Walid Zazai (@ZazaiWalid) November 22, 2017
Throughout the morning refugees and their friends posted video and photographs of personal belongings that were destroyed by PNG police and immigration officials, including food supplies donated by concerned locals.
The mens possessions are being burned by PNG urged on by ABF. #auspol #Manus .@BehrouzBoochani pic.twitter.com/RHAjbmcq7P
— Jane Salmon (@JSalmonupstream) November 23, 2017
HAPPENING NOW:
More photos send to me just now from the men on #Manus of military destroying their food and water supplies, smuggled in by locals, churches and people of compassion. #sosManus pic.twitter.com/1xLgd0A3RA
— Jarrod McKenna ن (@jarrodmckenna) November 23, 2017
Over 400 refugees detained at the (now closed) Australian regional processing centre on Manus Island have been refusing to relocate, saying they want freedom, not another prison.
Updates:
Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of, Behrouz Boochani story on Guardian Australia.
Story on Amnesty International website.
#PNG police Navy stoled All Things from The Mike Compound And They Took All things in The Cars, We Don’t Care About Propertys, We are peaceful people and We Need Justice, We Want Freedom In a Safe Country Not in PNG. #manus
— Ezatullah kakar (@EzatullahKakar) November 23, 2017
This video explain to the whole world that Australian government gave an order to PNG Immigration and police to destroyed. Force us #Manus and arrest some of us #Manus #ManusIsland #ManusSOS #auspol #EvacuteManus #SOSManus https://t.co/pSdgVA4Gvc
— Fahad AL Badry (@manusFad22) November 23, 2017
I’ve just been released. They hancuffed me for more than two hours in a place behind the prison camp. The police commander yelled at me ‘you are reporting against us.’ They pushed me several times and broke my belongings. Will write more about it later.
— Behrouz Boochani (@BehrouzBoochani) November 23, 2017
Peter Dutton said they are number of refugees moved out voluntarily that s not true they have been forcibly removed by police& immigrations pic.twitter.com/eyu51RuALK
— Abdul Aziz Adam (@Aziz58825713) November 23, 2017
Australia and PNG obviously are violating human rights pic.twitter.com/p8qU0MWwMw
— Behrouz Boochani (@BehrouzBoochani) November 23, 2017
The police and immigrations have just left the center and the refugees are cleaning the center now everyone is depressed and scared. pic.twitter.com/upW1IT74f9
— Abdul Aziz Adam (@Aziz58825713) November 23, 2017
Police beat up some of the refugees and forced them to the new prison camp in East Lorengau, Hillside Haus and West Haus. I just met some of them who are injured. #Manus
— Behrouz Boochani (@BehrouzBoochani) November 23, 2017