Asylum seeker swallows razor blades in Manus Island protest
A 40-year-old Egyptian Christian man at the Manus Island detention centre has collapsed after reportedly swallowing three razor blades as part of a protest involving more the 500 asylum seekers.
In a video obtained by The Guardian, a Manus Island detainee is shown collapsing in Mike compound and appears unresponsive to the assistance of fellow detainees and at least one security guard.
One of the detainees can be heard saying: "He eat the razor".
The Refugee Action Coalition alleges that another man has also swallowed razor blades, and 40 others have stitched their lips together.
Almost half of the detention centre population are now said to be refusing food and water.
Hunger strikes began Tuesday after the immigration department threatened to force 50 refugees to move to insecure accommodation at the Lorengau settlement on Manus.
Despite warnings from new immigration minister Peter Dutton, protests have only escalated throughout the week.
Mr Dutton initially described the protests as involving "a small number of transferees engaged in self harm” but has since expressed shock and concern at the intensifying situation.
"I'm worried about developments over the course of the last 24 hours. I'm concerned about what I've learnt in the last hour or so. And the situation is volatile, there's no question about that," Mr Dutton told reporters on the Gold Coast on Friday.
The protest is now biggest the centre has seen since the fatal riots in February last year.
RAC spokesman Ian Rintoul says that the Minister should call off the threat to forcibly move refuges to Papua New Guinea on January 22 for the safety of the asylum seekers detained on Manus.
Mr Rintoul added that the PNG government had no political will to allow secure resettlement there.
A video shows an asylum seeker being assisted by fellow detainees after swallowing razor blades in a bid to see his daughter and sister, The Guardian reports. Photo: The Guardian
"All the asylum seekers and refugees should be brought to Australia where their processing and resettlement can be guaranteed," Mr Rintoul said.
Protestors facing a forced transfer Lorengau on Manus Island and to PNG to say they are “prepared for death”.
The man who collapsed after swallowing razor blades reportedly told fellow detainees he too wanted to die but hoped his drastic protest would help reunite him with his daughter and sister.
“I just have one option, I just want to see my daughter and my sister... I miss them. I have to see them.”
Mr Dutton would not comment on individual cases but said authorities were providing medical assistance and offers of support.
He said he was confident that appropriate action was being taken to deal with the circumstances on Manus Island as they unfolded.
Mr Dutton said he wanted to make it clear that even though he had taken over from Scott Morrison, the Australian government's position on border protection had not changed.
No one who arrived by boat without a visa would be settled in Australia, he said.
"That remains absolutely the case."
News break – January 16
