Police maintains order during peaceful demonstrations by refugees and asylum seekers
Peaceful
demonstrations by asylum seekers and refugees over the past few
days should not be cause for alarm to the Nauruan community as the
Nauru Police Force (NPF) maintains order and safety at both the
Regional Processing Centres (RPC) and in the
community.
The asylum
seekers accommodated at RPC 3 conducted peaceful demonstrations
each evening from 25th to
30th September. On
each occasion the demonstrations lasted approximately two
hours.
The refugees
residing at the Anibare and Ijuw residences conducted peaceful
demonstrations at the Anibare residence from the
26th to
29thSeptember.
There was also
a group of refugees that conducted peaceful demonstrations outside
the Australian High Commission.
The Nauru
Police Force attended the demonstrations at Anibare and in front of
the High Commission to ensure good order was maintained in the
community.
It is
understood that the asylum seekers and refugees are frustrated with
the policies recently announced by the Australian Government in
particular the introduction of temporary protection visas and the
arrangement with Cambodia in relation to the settlement in Cambodia
of persons found to be refugees on
Nauru.
The NPF has
been working closely with the service providers at the RPC and the
Australian Government to maintain peace and order at the centres
and the community.
The Nauru
Government appreciates the efforts of the NPF in ensuring that the
domestic laws of Nauru are applied in the RPC and in the
community.