Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Three cases of self harm in two days on Manus Island prompts letter to PNG Prime Minister

byJoe Higgins
8 February 2019 - Updated on 1 April 2021
Reading Time: 3 mins read
AA
refugees

Asylum woes: “The mindset suggested that if even one brick in the asylum-seeker deterrent system was removed from the anti-asylum seeker edifice that had been constructed over the past twenty-five years, the entire building would collapse and a large number of boats would return.”

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
refugees
Asylum woes: “My concern is rather about their fast deteriorating health status, which is making now acts of self-harm and attempted suicide a daily occurrence: three cases only for the two days I was in Manus on 20-22 January.”

A LETTER penned by the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Island’s Bishops Conference general secretary Fr Giorgio Licini has called for the closure of Manus Island detention centre. 

The letter comes as the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award was awarded to Manus Island refugee Behrouz Boochani.

Mr Boochani’s novel, No Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison, won Australia’s most valuable literary award valued at $100,000. 

Mr Boochani is a Kurdish-Iranian journalist and remains on Manus Island where he has been denied entry into Australia since his detention began in 2013.

In a recorded video message, Mr Boochani said he always believed in words and literature.

“I believe that literature has the potential to make change and challenge structures of power,” he said.

The judges’ report from the Wheeler Centre said Mr Boochani produced a stunning work of art and critical theory, which evades simple description.

Fr Licini’s letter was sent to PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, detailing his experience on the island Mr Boochani resides on.

“It is with heavy heart and an intense sense of sadness that I report to you on my recent visits to Lorengau town in Manus Island and to the Pacific International Hospital in Port Moresby,” Fr Licini wrote.

“At the two locations, I had the heartbreaking experience of making contact with an appalling level of desperation in which refugees and asylum seekers live. 

Related Stories

New report highlights Tigray atrocities, says Ethiopia could face famine

United Nations nuncio joins others in calling for end to hostilities in Ukraine

Catholic refugees from Afghanistan in ‘purgatory’ waiting for visas

“I am not referring to the logistic conditions in which the men are kept, which appear to be decent with security, cleanliness, and respect by national and expatriate personnel.

“My concern is rather about their fast deteriorating health status, which is making now acts of self-harm and attempted suicide a daily occurrence: three cases only for the two days I was in Manus on 20-22 January.”

Fr Licini called on the prime minister to take a look for himself at the PIH’s intensive care unit.

“You will meet about twenty refugees and asylum seekers in a deplorable state of mental health compounded with other ailments affecting their cardiac and respiratory system, kidney failure, fractured bones, etc,” he wrote.

Fr Licini appealed to the PNG prime minister to give a deadline to the authorities in Canberra for the removal of all refugees and asylum seekers from the country.

ShareTweet
Previous Post

Slavery is a reality for millions of people, and Catholic agencies are fighting to end it for good

Next Post

‘Women of light’ gather for the final time at the Aspley Catholic Women’s League group

Joe Higgins

Related Posts

New report highlights Tigray atrocities, says Ethiopia could face famine
News

New report highlights Tigray atrocities, says Ethiopia could face famine

5 March 2022
United Nations nuncio joins others in calling for end to hostilities in Ukraine
News

United Nations nuncio joins others in calling for end to hostilities in Ukraine

4 March 2022
Catholic refugees from Afghanistan in ‘purgatory’ waiting for visas

Catholic refugees from Afghanistan in ‘purgatory’ waiting for visas

12 January 2022
Next Post

'Women of light' gather for the final time at the Aspley Catholic Women's League group

Vinnies Queensland's new chief says their strength is in grassroots engagement, listening and being present

Have you met the Holy Spirit? US theologian urges all Christians accept the fruits of the Holy Spirit

Popular News

  • 15 killed in Texas school shooting

    15 killed in Texas school shooting

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Archbishop calls for prayers in “troubled times”

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • US bishops applaud San Francisco prelates pastoral response to Pelosi’s decades of abortion advocacy

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nuncio take in the sights of Queensland’s far north

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Nuncio take in the sights of Queensland’s far north
News

Nuncio take in the sights of Queensland’s far north

by Staff writers
25 May 2022
0

Pope Francis’ delegate to Australia has found time for sightseeing during a busy trip to Far North...

Hong Kong

Cardinal Joseph Zen appears in court in Hong Kong on day of prayer for China

25 May 2022
15 killed in Texas school shooting

15 killed in Texas school shooting

25 May 2022
Archbishop calls for prayers in “troubled times”

Archbishop calls for prayers in “troubled times”

24 May 2022
Myanmar military burns houses, destroys a village

US bishops applaud San Francisco prelates pastoral response to Pelosi’s decades of abortion advocacy

24 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping