ASYLUM SEEKERS PROTEST SOLVED : PATO

Papua New Guinea Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Rimbink Pato said, the Asylum Seekers Protest has been peacefully resolved.

The end to the protest was achieved after Chief Migration Officer, Mataio Rabura, took charge of the Manus Regional Processing Center yesterday.

Mr. Rabura was directed by Prime Minister Peter O' Neil to take immediate charged of the facility from the contractors, as a way of putting an end to the seven-day standoff.

After taking control of the center, the Chief Migration Officer approved for the security personnel to enter the compound, and assist any person who did not want to be there to leave the compound, especially those being held against their will.

A few agitators tried preventing the removal of ill people but were restrained by security personnel, bringing the protest to an end.

The Police Incident Response Team was on standby in case of the situation escalating and have detained the instigators of the protest.

Some transferees have been treated for dehydration and fatigue.