Iranian civil engineer Reza Mollagholipour thought he was doing the right thing and organised job interviews in Port Moresby. He borrowed money for a flight to prepare for his new life as a refugee in PNG. Refugees who are part of the Australia-funded offshore processing system remain effectively under “island arrest” until the PNG government approves a resettlement policy, which was due to be completed a year ago. Their asylum applications have been processed, they have been released from detention and are living at the Australia-funded Lorengau transit centre on Manus Island.
Almost two years after former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd signed the Refugee Resettlement Agreement with PNG, no refugees have been resettled. Papua New Guinea is breaking international law by restricting the freedom of movement of refugees on Manus Island, the United Nations says.
