PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) — Claims that Papua New Guinea violated its constitution and the country’s laws by taking asylum seekers bound for Australia are being heard in the country’s National Court.
Human rights lawyers want the asylum seekers being held in Papua New Guinea released.
Human rights attorney Patrick Harricknen told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.’s Foreign Correspondent program that Papua New Guinea breached four sections of its constitution by accepting the 364 asylum seekers currently being held on Manus Island.
“You can only detain a person only if he or she commits an offense and whoever is detained has the right to receive legal aid,” Harricknen said.
The application, which is currently before the National Court in Port Moresby, also seeks compensation for the asylum seekers for wrongful detention.
