Refugee from PNG repression
By Frank Enright
Lillian Crofts, the first Bougainvillean to be granted refugee status by the Australian government, has challenged claims that she would not be persecuted if she returned.
“Claims by the deputy prime minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Julius Chan, that I would not be persecuted if forced to return to Port Moresby [PNG] ring hollow”, Crofts said.
She cited Chan's recent comments in dismissing Amnesty International's report on extrajudicial executions in PNG as evidence of his insincerity. “When you deal with criminals what do you do? You don't just put up your hand and say: `We have to do it in a democratic way'.”, said Chan.
The PNG government has recently enacted the Internal Security Act, giving the police and army wide powers of arrest and detention without charge. “Any dissident who disagrees with the government can be caught by the provisions of the act”, says Crofts.
Crofts' assertion that her liberty, and possibly her life, would be threatened if she returned, is backed up by the decision of the Refugee Review Tribunal to grant her refugee status.
PNG's minister responsible for Bougainville, Michael Ogio, says that Crofts would not be victimised. “We offer Ms Crofts a free ticket to Papua New Guinea”, said Ogio. “She is welcome to come into any care centres to work with the government and her people on the restoration program.”
Thirty-five people have been reported as missing, believed executed by the PNG Defence Force, from “care centres” since late 1992. There are also allegations of torture and pack rape in these places of detention.
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