Pacific

Road to refugee transit centre on PNG's Manus blocked

14:33 pm on 19 December 2017

The road to the East Lorengau refugee Transit Centre on Manus Island has reportedly been blocked by the landowner as a form of protest.

The roadblock at the ELTC Photo: Behrouz Boochani

The Kurdish journalist and refugee Behrouz Boochani said the landowner had used trucks to prevent service staff from entering the Papua New Guinea centre.

While another refugee said he had been unable to pass the blockade, Mr Boochani said the protest did not target refugees.

He said the roadblock was aimed at service companies JDA, IHMS, Paladin as well as the Australian Border Force.

Photos taken by a refugee of the blockade show signs directed at the companies.

About 380 men forcibly removed from Australia's refugee detention centre on the island last month reside in the transit centre.

The roadblock at the ELTC Photo: Supplied

In November, the ABC reported 10 JDA staff, who provided management services, were forced to leave the island by "angry landowners."

It said the road was blocked then as the landowner company demanded it be given the management contract.