The Wire

Department of Immigration officials faced a grilling today during Senate estimates committee hearings, over the fate of 43 West Papuan asylum seekers currently being detained at the Christmas Island detention centre. Its still not know when their claims will be processed or whether they will be granted asylum. Despite international human rights groups continuing to raise concerns about abuses being perpetrated by the Indonesian military, Indonesia maintains that its government will guarantee the safety of the asylum seekers if they are returned to West Papua. Indonesian embassy spokesperson Dino Kusnadi and former West Papua refugee Titus Kambuaya, and Greens Senator Kerry Nettle all spoke to The Wire.