Estimates: Senator Rhiannon on G4S acting operations manager
The Australian Government has again refused to accept accountability for the private companies that run their detention prisons.
On 24 Feb the ABC broke a story that Mr Dinesh Perera, a former officer in the Sri Lankan army has been running the Manus Island offshore processing centre for the G4S security company.
Lee asked the Department in estimates about Mr Perera’s position at the detention prisons. Watch the video for their reply.
As reported in the ABC (http://ab.co/1kGBKhl) the Human Rights Law centre’s, Emily Howie, says Mr Perera should be removed.
“It’s completely inappropriate for anyone with links to the Sri Lankan military to be in charge of the welfare and well-being of vulnerable asylum seekers, including Tamils,” Ms Howie said.
“There’s a high likelihood that the Tamils being held there are fleeing persecution at the hands of the Sri Lankan military.
“This isn’t about the activities of this one man. It’s about [the] way that Australia takes care of the asylum seekers who are in its custody.
“The placing of an ex-military commander from a source country for refugees like Sri Lanka highlights Australia’s complete insensitivity to the very real risks and suffering that those asylum seekers are fleeing.