Tension has risen at the Australian-run refugee detention centre in Papua New Guinea after power and water were cut to one of its compounds.
Officials gathered at the gate of Foxtrot compound. Photo: Behrouz Boochani
Foxtrot compound has been earmarked for demolition as the centre's October closure date draws closer after the facility was found to be illegal.
On Tuesday, authorities cut services to Foxtrot in an attempt force about 100 refugees residing there to move to the transit centre in nearby Lorengau town.
More than 700 refugees are refusing to leave the detention centre as they fear they will be forced to settle permanently in PNG.
They are also afraid of being attacked by Manusian locals, following dozens of assaults and muggings including three over the weekend.
There has been no report of anybody being held accountable for the attacks.
The Kurdish journalist and detainee Behrouz Boochani reported that PNG police gathered at the gate of Foxtrot compound on Tuesday.
Mr Boochani said they were met by Foxtrot refugees demanding the electricity be restored.
He said the police eventually left the centre without a physical altercation as refugees reconnected power through Mike compound.
An advocate with the Refugee Action Coalition Ian Rintoul said holding the Manus refugees hostage in this way was a new low for the Australian government.
Australia is about to close detention centre because it has been operating outside PNG law Photo: supplied Refugee Action Coalition