Australia’s hardline immigration policy was thrown into turmoil on Wednesday after Papua New Guinea ordered a processing camp to close, leaving the fate of hundreds of asylum seekers hanging in the balance. The move to shutter the Australian—funded Manus island facility follows a supreme court ruling on Tuesday that detaining people there was unconstitutional and illegal.
Piling further pressure on Canberra, just weeks out from an expected election campaign, an Iranian refugee set himself on fire during a visit by UN officials to Nauru, the other Pacific nation where Australia sends boatpeople. Four others on the tiny outpost reportedly attempted suicide by drinking washing powder on Tuesday. “Respecting this (court) ruling, Papua New Guinea will immediately ask the Australian Government to make alternative arrangements for the asylum seekers currently held at the Regional Processing Centre,” Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said of the Manus camp.
Papua New Guinea's former opposition leader Belden Namah had challenged the Manus arrangement in court, claiming it violated the rights of asylum seekers.