Nauru’s Acting President and Minister for Justice
Hon David Adeang says the Friday riot which destroyed most of the facilities at
the Regional Processing Centre (RPC) does not change Nauru’s commitment to
hosting the Centre. “Australia hasn’t asked for changes and we haven’t
put any forward, so yes it’s business as usual,” the acting president said.
“There will of course be extra measures taken now to enhance security protocols
and features associated with
managing the RPC and these are
being addressed, together with
a consideration of greater
effort to enhance the
determination process and communicating with
the asylum seekers about this process and the state of their determination.”
Nauru will also be shortly assuming greater control
and responsibility of the Centres through Administrative Arrangements supporting
the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) governing the processing of
asylum seekers.
The
administrative arrangements will
assist the Government of Nauru in particular
to stay on
top of operational issues over
the RPC including
the welfare of asylum seekers. The riot that
erupted in fames
and violence at the
RPC at the
weekend (19 July) destroying buildings and food supplies for
the camp is
estimated at $60-million.
Mr
Adeang toured the
site this week (22
July) with cabinet
ministers and members of
parliament and saw
the destruction frst hand. The
wreckage is being
bulldozed and cleared to
make way for
rebuilding which is estimated
to be ready
in six months.
All
eight accommodation blocks
each housing between 44 to 88 people, office blocks, and
medical facilities were burnt
to the ground,
including half the new
kitchen which had
just been commissioned three days
before the riot. Up to 400 asylum seekers
are still at the Centre and now living in tents until more suitable
accommodation can be erected.
They are receiving food and medical treatment. Court
proceedings for 152 asylum seekers in police custody are underway. On 24 July
the District Court of Nauru denied
bail for the men,
however bail hearings commenced a
day later (25 July).
The
initial charges are unlawful
assembly and riot, with
additional charges expected including
arson on public buildings. The latter
charge would require a
hearing in the Supreme
Court with a committal
process in the District Court initially.
The asylum seekers appeared before Resident
Magistrate Peter Law in groups of ten to 12. The asylum seekers are being
represented by court appointed lawyers. Each group was aided by an interpreter.
Information copy pasted from Nauru Bulletin 26 July 2013 - no.88
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