Genuine refugees at centre of Manus unrest

Refugee advocates claim up to 700 asylum seekers are on a hunger strike as unrest continues in the Manus Island detention centre.

Detention centre staff are rounding up ringleaders and placing them in a high-security isolation unit, the advocates claim.

The asylum seekers are protesting against the forced transfer of 50 men to a transit centre near Lorengau, Manus Island's capital, ahead of their eventual resettlement in Papua New Guinea.

The men were found to be refugees but fear a lack of security at the temporary centre will not keep them safe from attackers.

Dozens of protesters have stitched their lips together or swallowed detergent or razor blades, advocates claim.

Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said up to 40 "riot squad" officers from contractor Transfield raided compounds at the detention centre and took protest leaders to the high-security isolation unit early yesterday.

He claimed officers also tried to force water down the throats of two unconscious protesters.

Mr Rintoul claimed the officers threatened to call in a special forces unit to deal with the detainees if they did not stop their hunger strike.

Detainees also had to burrow under fences to get bottles of water left on pallets, he said.

"Taking leaders hostage or using the riot squad won't stop the hunger strike protest," Mr Rintoul said.

He said urgent action was needed to prevent another tragedy after one detainee was killed during a riot last year.

Refugee Rights Action Network WA member Sally Thompson, who is in regular contact with detainees, criticised the Government for pushing asylum seekers to the brink.

About 100 people attended a vigil organised by RRANWA outside the Immigration Department's detention centre at Perth Airport on Friday night in a show of solidarity for the detainees.

"The situation is appalling. Conditions are intolerable," Ms Thompson said.

PNG officials denied there was a raid, saying there was no such incident.

A spokesman for Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the Government supported PNG authorities in responding to the situation.

"The Government is advised that a number of transferees have continued to engage in disruptive behaviour overnight," the spokesman said.

"The department has advised the Government that food and water continue to be available.

"However, normal services and supplies in certain areas of the centre have been affected by the disruptive behaviour of some transferees. Normal services are ready to resume in those areas as soon as the situation allows.

"Appropriate medical care continues to be provided to transferees who require or request it."

The spokesman said allegations reported by some media groups on Saturday that guards had beaten detainees were false.