An Iranian refugee charged with drunk and disorderly behaviour on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island has committed an act of self-harm, while another has gone on hunger strike in protest.
Photos of injuries suffered by two refugees in an attack on New Years Eve, 2016. Photo: Refugee Action Coalition
The men, known as Mohammad and Mehdi, were arrested on New Years Eve in Lorengau.
The pair denied any wrong doing and accused drunken police and immigration officials of severely beating them.
Manus Island MP Ronny Knight told the Sydney Morning Herald the two were treated like any local who resisted arrest and got what they deserved.
The Kurdish refugee and journalist, Behrouz Boochani, said Mohammad deliberately cut himself with a razor while Mehdi was refusing to eat.
"He has been in hunger strike since last week and is so sick and depressed. The refugees say that did not commit any crime on that night but were beaten by police."
Behrouz Boochani said the men were due to appear in court yesterday but the hearing was cancelled.