Asylum seekers on Manus sent home in weeks
Most asylum seekers being held on Manus Island will be sent to their home countries within weeks, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says.
Mr O'Neill on Tuesday said six asylum seekers previously housed in the Manus Island detention centre have been moved to an Australian-built transit centre outside the Manus capital, Lorengau, before resettlement in PNG.
But he said most of the detainees are not genuine political refugees.
"I think many of them are just out there trying to have economic opportunities that Australia and other countries offer to them," Mr O'Neill told the ABC.
He said only a very small number of detainees would be determined to be legitimate refugees.
"Most of the other people who are in the processing centre we're now talking to their governments and we will start repatriating many of them in a very short time," he said.
"I would say within weeks."
But he said a lack of information from countries such as Iran and Iraq was frustrating the process.
"We will work through those issues and conclude them quickly, so people have some certainty in their lives," he said.
He said PNG is developing a policy to allow asylum seekers who have been granted refugee status a path to citizenship.
Tensions flared on Manus Island earlier this month after up to 600 asylum seekers on Manus started a hunger strike, while at least one man swallowed razor blades.
Refugee advocates say 58 asylum seekers were arrested by PNG police during the tensions.
