FED:Over 100 PNG protesters airlifted home

AAP General News (Australia)
12-25-2010
FED:Over 100 PNG protesters airlifted home

Eds: Clarifies number on Boxing Day flight in 5th par



SYDNEY, Dec 25 AAP - Three more planeloads of Papua New Guineans, protesting for Australian
citizenship, have been sent home on Christmas Day with a final flight expected to return
the remaining 22 on Boxing Day.

The start of the airlift back to Daru began on Friday with 27 Papua New Guineans on
board out of the 119 who were detained on Wednesday and Thursday night on Horn Island
off the tip of Queensland's Cape York Peninsula.

The three flights that left on Saturday carried 109 Papua New Guineans.

The Papua New Guineans had set off from Daru Island near the Torres Strait in 12 dinghies
on a 150km journey to the Australian mainland on Wednesday morning and were intercepted
in Australian waters.

Another boat was intercepted on Christmas Eve carrying a dozen people on board as it
tried to reach Australian shores. There will be 22 leaving on a plane for Daru on Sunday
including this boatload.

The group known as Papua Australia Plaintiff United Affiliates (PAPUA) want Australia
to recognise that Papuans were not given a choice to remain Australians when PNG gained
independence in 1975.

Papua covers the southern half of the PNG mainland and the group claim they are still
Australian citizens because there has never been a referendum to legally sever ties with
Australia.

All of the protesters were compliant to the operation that is expected to cost up to
half a million dollars.

Immigration and Serco staff had to be flown from Canberra, Brisbane and Cairns, five
security staff had to be on board the flights, in addition to medical staff and pilots
needed for the operation.

"It was a futile trip for them, their boats were seized and they've now been confiscated
under the Migration Act as a result of this unlawful entry," said Department of Immigration
spokesman Sandi Logan.

"If they believe they have a claim - and this is a long standing issue - there is a
process through the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby where they can lodge an
application ... submit their documentation.

"It will be processed and if they are eligible, they will be granted; if they are not
eligible then they will be told, but they need to lodge an application to test that,"

he said.

AAP dmg/sn/apm

KEYWORD: BOAT PNG (REISSUING)

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