Here is a Facebook message from Behrouz Boochani, posted about 4 hours ago:
The situation is getting worse in Manus prison camp. The bodies are getting weak and people are developing physical problems. The refugees collected some more water in rubbish bins from a big tropical rain storm yesterday, and they are also using water from a hole that they dug in Oscar coupound. This water is not clean enough for people to drink, but they are boiling it on a small fire so it can be used. Another important thing is that people are struggling with starvation, and at the same time don’t feel safe in the centre or safe enough to go out because of their previous bad experiences. Many people are unable to sleep because of hunger and fear. Yesterday a Manus missionary wanted to bring food in to the refugees but the Navy prevented them. It’s really hard to describe the difficulty of the current situation. Nonetheless, what I’m understanding from talking with people is that they are not going to leave the prison camp. Also it’s important to state they are saying they don’t want to go to Australia. They are asking that Australia lets them go to a third country. They are so tired from Australia and don’t want to hear any more from Australia.
Hey: Malcolm Turnbull and Peter Dutton how are your Christian values looking?
Mr Turnbull has made many bad decisions,some of which are understandable and may be forgiven, but his support for Mr Dutton’s atrocities and failure to understand human hunger for freedom can never be forgiven
This is horrendous. You have great support from many Australians. Government has to give ground soon.
This shameful situation needs to be rectified. These people are not criminals and deserve o treated with dignity and respect. The government must save them.
How can our Parliamentary sessions commence with the reciting of ‘The Lords Prayer’ here in Australia, a nominally Christian democracy, without gross hypocrisy? The terrible cruelty that is manifest in the pitiful plight of these already vulnerable individuals on Manus Island is reprehensible. Are these really the leaders & policy makers we want? When will Australia embrace compassion & compromise : or are we just another consumer/ego driven nation with no real meaningful values.Our New Zealand neighbours truly put us to shame. Maggie Attard.