Impunity Watch: Oceania

Inquiry Reveals Corruption Within PNG Immigration Department

2009-11-07T19:07:29-05:00

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – Papua New Guinean immigration officials state that the Foreign Affairs and Immigration Department lacks sufficient resources to prevent foreigners from entering the country.

As a result of an anti-Asian riot, which occurred last May, the government has undertaken an inquiry into Department practices, to determine just how a large number of foreigners received entry visas.

Last May’s riot in Port Moresby was started by a non-governmental group, who claimed that foreigners, who entered the country illegally, took jobs away from locals who would otherwise do them.

The protest sparked rioting and looting of Asian-owned stores.

The Parliamentary Bipartisan Committee has found that foreigners have been able to enter Papua New Guinea, secure employment, and start their own businesses.

Elias Woangu, the Deputy Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade, stated that the government only employs thirty officers to handle visa applications. The lack of manpower makes it difficult to monitor individuals entering and leaving the country.

Papua New Guinea is currently home to approximately 15,000 illegal residents.

The Committee found that many foreigners have been able to bribe their way into the country. Officials not following proper procedure have accepted bribes when issuing or renewing visas and passports.

Several officers have been penalized for this corrupt behavior.

The Deputy Secretary also noted that the lack of resources has made it difficult for the department to deport illegal immigrants and other individuals who have overstayed their visas.

Papua New Guinea does not have detention centers to hold illegal immigrants.
Mr. Woangu also told the Committee that citizens have threatened immigration officials who have tried to deport illegal immigrants. In one instance, officials who attempted to deport a foreigner, who had married a local woman, but were subsequently threatened by his in-laws.

The Committee is due to conclude its investigation in two weeks. At that time, it will report its findings to the Parliament and make recommendations for reforming immigration, labor, and business laws.

For more information, please see:
Pacific Media Center – PNG Parliamentary Committee “Shocked” at Immigration Corruption - 07 November 2009

Radio New Zealand – PNG Parliamentary committee “shocked” at immigration corruption – 06 November 2009

Sydney Morning Herald – PNG inquiry hears claims of Asian crime – 06 November 2009

The National – PNG citizens protecting aliens, inquiry told – 05 November 2009

Radio Australia News – No monitoring of visitors, PNG inquiry told – 05 November 2009

Former Fiji Human Rights Commissioner Says Deportation of Academic Lal is Unacceptable

2009-11-06T14:18:18-05:00

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji - A former Fiji Human Rights Commissioner, Shamima Ali, says the treatment of Dr. Brij Lal is shocking and unacceptable. Lal was threatened when he was questioned by the Fiji military, and was deported to Australia after he was questioned.

Lal is an Australian academic who was originally born in Fiji.

Earlier this week, Lal commented on the interim regime's expulsion of top New Zealand and Australian diplomats in an interview with ABC.

Soon after, Lal was confronted by the Fiji military and questioned extensively. Lal reports that military authorities came to his house and took him to the barracks for questioning. Lal says he was subjected to intense verbal abuse, foul language and explosive anger while he was in detention in Suva.

The military gave Lal only 24 hours to leave Fiji. He was immediately deported to Australia.

Ali strongly criticizes the military's actions, and stated: "This is like taking us back to the early days of the coup; the military taking people in and I'm not at liberty to say exactly what he went through, but he was humiliated and sworn at and belittled and threatened..."

Ali further criticizes the military's behavior as being unacceptable: "I'm very concerned about what's happening. We seem to be facing a deteriorating situation politically in this country. And when we thought that bridges have been mended that's when it seems that it slipped out of our hands again. So it's not a good place for Fiji to be at the moment."

After Lal arrived in Australia, Lal commented that "he suffered nothing the people of Fiji don't already suffer daily." He returned to Australia with heightened diplomatic tensions resulting from the expulsions, which have left relations between Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand at a "new low."

Amnesty International condemns the action taken by Fiji's military against Lal. Amnesty reports that the military also told Lal that if he were to ever return to Fiji, he would be killed.

A researcher from Amnesty International, Apolosi Bose, says the situation in Fiji is deteriorating: "People were scared before, but the danger from Amnesty's point of view is that Fiji's situation will become worse as it becomes more isolated and away from all the scrutiny."

Fiji's immigration director, Major Nemani Vuniwaqa, denies that Lal was deported and expelled. He would not make any comments as to why Lal was questioned.

The Australian National University (ANU) is considering making a formal complaint to the Fiji government for its treatment of Lal.

Australia's National Tertiary Education Union also condemns the actions of the Fiji military. The Union's spokesman, Ted Murphy, says Lal's expulsion is "a direct violation of free speech and academic freedom."

Murphy also fears that the regime's actions will destroy educational partnerships between Australia and Fiji.

For more information, please see:
Raw Fiji News - A former Fiji Human Rights Commissioner says treatment of academic is shocking - 06 November 2009

ABC Radio Australia - Fiji deports Fiji-born Australian academic Dr. Brij Lal - 05 November 2009

Radio New Zealand International - A former Fiji Human Rights Commissioner says treatment of academic is shocking - 05 November 2009

Radio New Zealand International - Amnesty critical of Fiji treatment of Australian academic Lal - 05 November 2009

Radio New Zealand International - Fiji deports academic Lal to Australia - 04 November 2009

Accused of Interfering With Fiji's Affairs, Australia and New Zealand Diplomats Expelled

2009-11-04T20:26:05-05:00

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Fiji’s military-run government has accused diplomats from Australia and New Zealand of meddling in its internal affairs and has ordered them to leave the country.

Fijian army chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who seized control of the government in a 2006 coup, believes that Canberra and Wellington were “engaged in a dishonest and untruthful strategy to undermine our judiciary, our independent institutions and our economy.”

The Fiji Foreign Affairs Minister issued a directive to Australia and New Zealand to recall their diplomats within twenty-four hours.

Australia and New Zealand, the most vocal countries in terms of criticisms of Fiji, have threatened to extend the travel ban imposed on all senior government officials to these judges.

Their interference stems from Fiji’s attempts to recruit Sri Lankan judges, who would replace those members of the judiciary who were fired last April because they declared Bainimarama’s government illegal.

Fiji’s chief justice Anthony Gates stated that its neighbors’ actions are unprecedented, especially in light of the fact that the judges did not violate any laws, either internationally or domestically.

Bainimarama further stated that Australia and New Zealand have “fail[ed] to understand that [he is] creating a country that will be based on equal and common citizenry, a country of modern laws, a country which will have true democracy.”

According to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Bainimarama’s actions have forced them to take a “hardline approach to [this] regime” in order to prevent the “coup culture” from spreading to other nations in the Pacific region.

The Foreign Affairs Minister of New Zealand claims that the travel ban has been effective because it “incentivizes people not to be a part of the regime”.

The relationship amongst the three nations has been in decline since 2006, with New Zealand and Australia cutting defense ties and imposing travel bans on Bainimarama and the senior military officials.

Tensions have become increasingly intense in Fiji as Bainimarama has censored the media and extended military rule until 2014.

The Commodore refuses to hold elections for another five years, hoping to change the electoral system before holding a ballot. He hopes to eliminate the racism and corruption that has plagued the country.

Under the current electoral system, individuals in some constituencies may only cast votes for those candidates within their ethnic communities.

Fiji’s population is ethnically diverse. Tensions among various ethnic groups have resulted in three of the four coups which have occurred in the past twenty-two years.

In September, the Commonwealth of Nations, comprised of 53 states, suspended Fiji’s membership after the government refused to hold elections in 2010. Further, the Commonwealth cut off aid and barred Fiji from participating in the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Fiji has also been denied membership in the Pacific Islands Forum, a group of sixteen nations, including New Zealand and Australia.

The EU similarly extended the trade sanctions on Fiji in an attempt to force the government to address human rights abuses and restore democracy.

For more information, please see:
Bloomberg – Australia, New Zealand Expels Fiji’s Top Envoys as Row Escalates – 04 November 2009

Voice of America – Fiji’s Diplomatic Tussle with Australia, New Zealand Escalates – 04 November 2009

Xinhua – New Zealand, Australian envoys to leave Fiji soon following expulsion from Fiji – 04 November 2009

RTT News – Fiji Expels New Zealand, Australia Envoys – 03 November 2009

Prison Sentence for People-Smuggling Is Criticized as Being Excessive

2009-11-02T18:16:50-05:00

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

DARWIN, Australia - Judge Dean Mildren for the Northern Territory criticizes the laws that forced him to sentence two Indonesians to five years in jail for smuggling asylum-seekers. Judge Mildren stated that he would have preferred to give the two Indonesians a lesser penalty.

Australia has struggled over the increasing number of boat arrivals with people from war-ravaged countries seeking asylum. Boat crews usually comprise of poor fishermen who are approached by trafficking organizers and given lucrative fees for smuggling people. The organizers are rarely caught themselves, and the fishermen suffer the consequences.

On October 23, 2009, Mohamad Tahir and Beny pled guilty to smuggling asylum-seekers on a boat. The two Indonesians are only 19 years of age. They were both charged with illegally bringing five or more people into Australia.

Tahir and Beny were crew members aboard the boat SIEV 36. The boat was apprehended by the Australian Navy on April 15. The boat was heading towards Christmas Island, but exploded and caught fire near Ashmore Island, killing the five asylum seekers and injuring more than 40 people.

At the Northern Territory Supreme Court in Darwin, Tahir and Benny both admitted their guilt. Tahir appeared on the dock, and stated: "Yes I am guilty of bringing people who have no lawful right to come to Australia."

The Court also heard testimony that the two Indonesians were from "poor fishing families and had acted out of financial hardship when they were approached to carry asylum-seekers to Australia. Both had been approached by older men and offered $560 to smuggle the five asylum-seekers. Both are also illiterate.

Judge Mildren sentenced Tahir and Beny to five years in prison. However, he stated that he was "forced to sentence the pair to five years in prison with a non-parole period of three years, because of the mandatory minimum sentencing policy introduced by the Howard government" and that the time the two Indonesians would spend behind bars was "greater than the justice of the case."

Judge Mildren emphasized that he would have imposed a lower sentence if there was not a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, specifically because the two men were poor and had little education. He further commented that "[i]n cases such as this, the ordinary sentencing principles play no function."

According to the law, the men must serve at least three years of their term before they are eligible for parole.

Judge Mildren recommended to the federal Attorney-General to consider releasing the men after 12 months because of their young age, poor financial status, and if they assisted the authorities to track down the traffickers they were approached by.

For more information, please see:
The Australian - Jail term "excessive" for people-smugglers - 29 October 2009

ABC News - People smuggling: judge irked by sentencing laws - 28 October 2009

The Jakarta Post - 2 Indonesians sentenced to 5 years for people smuggling - 28 October 2009

PerthNow - SIEV 36 crew jailed after fatal people smuggling trip - 28 October 2009

Townsville Bulletin - Two from fatal people smuggling trip jailed - 28 October 2009

Words News Australia - Two Indonesians plead guilty to people smuggling - 23 October 2009

Asylum Center Expansion Is Evidence of Policy Failure

2009-10-31T23:34:53-04:00

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia – The Australian government will increase the capacity of a Christmas Island detention facility as a result of the increase in the number of individuals seeking asylum.

As a result of the government’s plans, the detention center, which will cost approximately $40 million, will be able to hold more than 2000 individuals.

The government believes that it is necessary to increase the number of beds by approximately 50%.

It will continue to expand the center as space is needed and remains committed to a policy of mandatory detention for all unauthorized boat arrivals.

Christmas Island officials claim that careful planning of the expansion will be necessary to ensure human treatment and avoid overcrowding.

While the government claims these plans are an effort to cope with the influx of asylum seekers over the last few months, opposition officials have a different view.

They claim this is evidence of the administration’s failing immigration policies. Expanding the capacity of detention facilities is not the answer, they claim, but rather the government must strengthen Australia’s immigration laws.

“[The Prime Minister’s] policy was a failure, it’s in chaos and it’s a shambles,” opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull stated.

Over the last several months, these policies have sparked bitter debate. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd claims that the influx is the result of the current situations in countries such as Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. The opposition, however, claims that the Rudd’s relaxation of the severe immigration policies inherited from his predecessor is at the root of the problem.

Rather than applying to the UN Refugee Agency, many asylum seekers will travel to Australia illegally by boat, which is encouraged by the administration’s lax policies.

This debate rages onward as seventy-eight Sri Lankan asylum seekers remain aboard a ship in waters just off one of the Indonesian islands.

Neither the government nor the asylum seekers are budging on their positions.

The asylum seekers indicated that they were being treated well but refused to disembark unless the ship went to Australia.

Indonesia will allow the ship to remain there for another week.

For more information, please see:

ABC News – Detention centre expansion ‘proves policy failure’ – 31 October 2009

ABC News – Detention centre expansion confirmed – 31 October 2009

The Age – Christmas Is detention centre to expand – 31 October 2009

BBC News – Australia to expand asylum centre – 31 October 2009

Pitcairn Considers New Draft of Constitution

2009-10-30T13:57:12-04:00

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

ADAMSTOWN, Pitcairn - The Governor of Pitcairn, George Ferguson, announced that the island is considering a new draft of the constitution because there is a need for human rights to be "spelled out." The current constitution was enacted in 1970. Since then, there has been a need for a document to include provisions regarding human rights. The new constitution would replace the 1970 constitution.

In June 2009, Britain called for the democratic reform of Pitcairn. The reform of Pitcairn was to bring the island in accordance with European standards of governance and human rights.

New management structures were implemented, such as the election of the mayor as the leading governmental authority on the island, and giving the mayor a council, which is divided into four managers. By updating the judicial structure of Pitcairn, Britain hoped this would give the citizens more rights that are guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights.

However, not everyone on the island agrees with the new structures. Some of the islanders voiced their dismay at the changes to the island's governance.

In a commentary to the changes in Pitcairn's governance, the director of the Pitcairn Islands Study Centre in California, claimed that "Britain wanted to give the impression it was giving its overseas territories greater freedom in deciding their own future, when it was not."

He further stated: "They have too little freedom to live their lives according to the best interest of the island itself. Everything is looked at through the eyes of a Britisher who has been appointed from London, sits 4000 miles away from them and really doesn't understand all the problems on this island."

In response to the opposition of the reform, Ferguson now hopes to draft a constitution that will include a state of rights based on the European Union Convention on Human Rights. He also hopes to create a post of the Attorney General and to define the Governor's role.

But the main focus of the new draft would be the "explicit setting out of people's rights." Ferguson hopes that the new constitution will serve as a document that "spells out" human rights.

In explaining why the new draft is needed, Ferguson stated: "We have recently done legislation very much with the principles of the Convention of Human Rights in mind, and we are pretty confident that we are broadly compatible with it. But it seems right to make the powers explicit, enable people to have the power to challenge legislation or administrative things in terms of those rights - make it an explicit power, rather than just self discipline on the part of the Government..."

For more information, please see:
Islands Business - New Pitcairn constitution to spell out human rights - 28 October, 2009

Pacific Islands News Association - New Pitcairn constitution to spell out human rights - 28 October, 2009

Radio New Zealand International - New Pitcairn constitution to spell out human rights - 27 October, 2009

Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Radio Australia - Big changes in Pitcairn government - 19 June, 2009

The New Zealand Herald - Democracy reform for Pitcairn - 18 June, 2009

UN To Examine Australia's Policies Amid Asylum Impasse

2009-10-29T02:52:14-04:00

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to health is expected to review Australia’s immigration policies amid increasing international scrutiny.

Anand Grover will inspect detention facilities in Villawood and Brisbane, but not those at Christmas Island, when he visits Australia next month and will report back to the UN Human Rights Council and the General Assembly.

Grover’s visit does not necessarily signify the existence of “shocking human rights violations”, according to a representative of an Australian human rights group, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre.

International concerns about Australia’s procedures for intercepting boats and processing asylum seekers has also prompted Human Rights Watch, an international organization, to take a closer look at Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s policies. This will be the first time since Rudd’s election in 2007 that the organization has decide to undertake an independent assessment of the Government’s policies.

In the past, Human Rights Watch was known to be highly critical of the Howard government’s policies concerning asylum seekers and temporary protection visas and issued “scathing criticisms” thereof.

Human Rights Watch is not the only group to express its concern with the Rudd administration’s treatment of asylum seekers. Several human rights lawyers and groups, including Amnesty International’s local branch, disapprove of processing these individuals in Indonesia as it has not yet ratified the UN Convention on Refugees.

The UN’s visit comes as the Government is attempting to win a $13 million bid for a seat on the Security Council. Australia is currently working to improve its diplomatic relations and reputation through various policy initiatives, including increased foreign aid, ratifying various international treaties and becoming more involved in regional issues.

Those in opposition to Prime Minister Rudd’s policies claim that he is “damaging Australia’s reputation”.

On October 26th the Australian Human Rights Commission issued a report, which outlines the Government’s policy on immigration detention and processing at Christmas Island.

The Rudd Government affirms its commitment to a policy of mandatory detention for all “irregular maritime arrivals” while processing claims and subjecting these individuals to health, security and identity checks.

Further, it maintains that the facility on Christmas Island is used to detain single men only. The Government promises that these detention facilities never house children.

The report also claims that it is “only right that [Australia] should treat people who seek [its] protection humanely… and meet our international obligations under the UN Refugee Convention.”

Australia’s policy has come under increasing scrutiny as officials attempt to decide how to resolve the situation of seventy-eight stranded Sri Lankan asylum seekers.

An Australian vessel picked up the asylum seekers on October 18th. An agreement between Indonesia and Australia would allow them to disembark at an Indonesian port for processing at a detention facility just northwest of Jakarta.

Australia’s Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, stated that the governments of both Australia and Indonesia have agreed that individuals rescued in open waters will go to Indonesia, and the UN High Commission for Refugees in Indonesia will process them.

The refugees, however, refuse to leave the boat because they want to go to Australia. Ultimately they do not have a choice in the place where they claim asylum.

Prime Minister Rudd claims the Government is prepared to use force to remove them from the boat. According to Indonesia, however, forcible removal is a breach of international law.

Despite mounting pressure, the Government has yet to resolve the fate of the Sri Lankan asylum seekers.

For more information, please see:
ABC News – Heat to end asylum seeker impasse – 29 October 2009

Bloomberg – Rudd May Use Force to Remove Sri Lankans from Ship, SMH Reports – 29 October 2009

Wall Street Journal – Surge in Refugees Presents a Problem for Australia – 29 October 2009

Brisbane Times – Indonesia governor rebels on refugees – 27 October 2009

Brisbane Times – Police head to Asia to fight smugglers – 27 October 2009

Sydney Morning Herald – UN puts Rudd policies in spotlight – 27 October 2009

The Government Monitor – Australia Government Committed to Mandatory Detention On Christmas Island – 26 October 2009

Gaston Flosse Alleges French Violated European Human Rights Convention

2009-10-26T21:34:57-04:00

By Cindy Trinh

Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

PAPEETE, French Polynesia - French Polynesia's veteran politician, Gaston Flosse, alleges that French authorities violated the European Human Rights Convention when French investigators detained his partner, Pascale Haiti.

In September of 2009, investigators detained Haiti to question her about the corruption probe of the Office of Post of Telecommunications (OPT). The case involves the misuse of $2 million through the OPT. Flosse is alleged to be the leader of the corruption probe.

Haiti was detained in Paris, France. Flosse stated that he believes the detainment of people close to him was merely a tactic to scare him.

Another person detained in link to the probe of the OPT was a computer technician, who was jailed in Tahiti for suspicion of destroying evidence. The technician was kept awake for two days straight and not allowed to sleep during the questioning.

In early October 2009, investigators searched the offices of the Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party at the assembly to further inquire about the OPT corruption probe.

On October 26, Flosse has stated to the Depeche de Tahiti newspaper that the French authorities violated the European Human Rights Convention when the investigators detained Haiti in Paris, France.

Flosse stated that he is "repulsed by the prolonged jailing of fellow suspects."

Many of the alleged co-conspirators have been transferred to Tahiti, and are held in prison for months.

Flosse rejects all claims of corruption and continues to assert his innocence.

For more information, please see:

Pacific Islands Report - Tahiti Politician Accuses France of Human Rights Abuses - 26 October, 2009

Radio New Zealand International - Flosse alleges French human rights abuse - 26 October, 2009

Islands Business - French Polynesia's Tahoeraa assembly offices searched - 9 October, 2009

Radio Australia News - French Polynesia bans Flosse for one year - 25 September, 2009

Radio New Zealand International - Partner of French Polynesia's Flosse detained in Paris - 24 September, 2009

People's Committee for Political Reform in Tonga Hopes to Submit Petition for New Prime Minister

2009-10-23T15:31:40-04:00

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga - The People's Committee for Political Reform in Tonga hopes to present a petition to the King requesting for a new Prime Minister. The petition is in accordance with the Tongan Women's National Congress, who also seeks the replacement of the current Prime Minister, Dr. Feleti Sevele.

The leader of the protest for women's rights, Mele Amanaki, has continued to pray and fast until Sevele is replaced. Amanaki and other members of the Tongan Women's National Congress have been fasting for almost two weeks in a protest against the poor governance of Sevele. They argue that the Sevele administration's blatant failure to recognize women's rights and the injustices they suffer must come to an end.

On October 22, 2009. Amanaki started drinking water after eight straight days of fasting. However, the King did not respond to her petition seeking the replacement of Sevele. In response, Amanaki stated: "I have faith in God that he's going to grant what we want and it's amazing the strength that he gives me. It's not that I could go and run a marathon but to be able to go without food for 10 days I just praise the Lord because he's the one who gives me strength."

Currently, approximately 800 women are fasting one day a week in support of the protest.

On October 23, 2009, the People's Committee for Political Reform in Tonga announced that it hopes to present a petition calling for the replacement of Sevele. The petition has close to 6,000 signatures, and follows the petition of Amanaki and the Tongan Women's National Congress.

A representative of the People's Committee for Political Reform, Isileli Pulu, criticizes the current administration's handling of various issues, including the rising crime rate against women. She states that the two organizations are supporting each other, and they are "hoping that the King will make a wise decision on how to handle this because this is not the first time for us to submit a petition for the Prime Minister to resign and hopefully the King will concede our petitions and act likewise."

Opponents to the hunger strike do not believe that protesting in this manner is the appropriate way to overthrow Sevele. The chairperson of Tonga's Civil Society Forum, Drew Havea, stated that the Forum does not "condone a protest hunger strike aimed at toppling the Prime Minister."

The Civil Society Forum opposes the same issues as does the Tongan Women's National Congress, but it does not agree with the approach the Congress is taking. Havea stated that the Civil Society Forum belongs to "a Christian denomination and we don't think it is God's will for us to take our lives. I mean the issues we need to work in whatever ways, we can support, but not to commit suicide."

For more information, please see:
Islands Business - The People's Committee for Political Reform in Tonga says it hopes to present a petition calling for a new Prime Minister to the King this afternoon - 23 October, 2009

Pacific Islands News Association - Tonga People's Committee for Political Reform poised to submit petition to King - 23 October, 2009

Radio New Zealand International - Tonga People's Committee for Political Reform poised to submit petition to King - 23 October, 2009

Radio New Zealand International - Tongan hunger striker now drinking but still determine to fast until death - 22 October, 2009

Prisoners in Papua New Guinea Attempt Jailbreak for Not Being Fed

2009-10-21T19:36:00-04:00

By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

MOUNT HAGEN, Papua New Guinea - Prisoners at a Papua New Guinea jail attempted to escape because they were not fed for two consecutive days. Prison guards successfully stopped the 487 prisoners from escaping. The prison break would have been the country's biggest mass break-out in history.

The Baisu prison, located near Mount Hagen in the Western Highland Province of Papua New Guinea, only has capacity for 300 inmates, yet it holds 800 inmates. A warder stated that the prison is extremely overcrowded and the facilities are "rundown." The 800 inmates were starving and left without food because a contract with the prison's food suppliers had expired.

The chief superintendent of Baisu jail, Simon Sobaim, explained that the prisoners had nothing to eat since Sunday, October 18 because of a dispute between rival food suppliers over the contract with the prison.

As a result of the lack of food, three of the inmates fell ill. Fellow inmates were furious and demanded that the ill inmates be taken to the hospital. Soon after, 487 of the prisoners attempted to escape the prison on Tuesday afternoon.

The inmates were able to get pass three layers of fencing. Many of the watch towers at the prison had been pulled down because they were rotten and in extremely poor condition. Thus, the prisoners were able to pass the fencing more easily. The prison guards had to fire shots at the escapees to stop them, but no one was killed.

Sobaim stated that this incident "would not have happened had the ongoing ration problem been resolved." The police commissioner has asked the former contractor to return to feed the inmates, and will continue to supply food until the dispute over the contract is resolved.

A representative of the prisoners stated that the next time the prisoners "were made to go hungry, they would simply walk out and risk being shot dead." The representative further stated that "while they were lawbreakers, they had a right under the law to be fed."

For more information, please see:
The National - Jail Drama - 21 October, 2009

Radio New Zealand International - Prisoners in PNG attempt to escape jail for not being fed - 21 October, 2009

The Timaru Herald - PNG's biggest ever prison break prevented - 21 October, 2009

Times Online - Prison guards thwart mass breakout in Papua New Guinea - 21 October, 2009

UPI Asia - Hungry Papua inmates' jailbreak foiled - 21 October, 2009