The first planeload of Papua New Guineans, protesting for Australian citizenship, have been sent back to Daru after they attempted to reach Australia in dinghies this week.
The start of the airlift back to Daru began at 8pm (AEST) on Friday with 27 Papua New Guineans on board out of the 119 who were detained on Wednesday and Thursday night on Horn Island off the tip of Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula.
The Papua New Guineans had set off from Daru Island near the Torres Strait in 12 dinghies on a 150km journey to the Australian mainland on Wednesday morning and were intercepted in Australian waters.
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The group known as Papua Australia Plaintiff United Affiliates (PAPUA) want Australia to recognise that Papuans were not given a choice to remain Australians when PNG gained independence in 1975.
Papua covers the southern half of the PNG mainland and the group claim they are still Australian citizens because there has never been a referendum to legally sever ties with Australia.
There will be a further three charter flights throughout Christmas day to take people back to Daru, and there is possibility of a fourth after some late arrivals were intercepted on Friday and were also detained at Horn Island.
“It was a futile trip for them, their boats were seized and they’ve now been confiscated under the Migration Act as a result of this unlawful entry,” said Department of Immigration spokesman Sandi Logan.
Of the 27 who were returned on this first flight, 21 were in family groups and they ranged in age from 56 to five years old.
Mr Logan said that the group were “compliant” but he warned there was nothing to be gained from their endeavour.
“If they believe they have a claim – and this is a long standing issue – there is a process through the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby where they can lodge an application…. submit their documentation.
“It will be processed and if they are eligible (for citizenship) they will be granted it, if they are not eligible then they will be told but they need to lodge an application to test that,” he said.
Source: www.smh.com.au
