Refugee released from Manus Island Detention Centre, says he is happy to settle in PNG
Reza Mollaghlipour is a 38-year-old civil engineer from Iran who has been granted refugee status by Papua New Guinea's government.
On 21 January, Mollaghlipour and a Pakistani man left behind the protests that had unsettled the detention centre for a week, taking a step towards eventual permanent resettlement in PNG.
The ABC spoke to Mollaghlipour as he wandered around the Lorengau market, looking at sea turtles, coconut products and traditional woven baskets.
“After a long time living in detention, around 18 months, absolutely I am very very happy that I could leave there [the detention centre],” Mollaghlipour said.
“You can see I'm walking around here without any [security] officers, without anything, I'm alone,” he said, smiling.
A total of six refugees have moved into the brand new $137 million (US$108 million) accommodation complex next to a school on the outskirts of Lorengau town.
They include three Iranians, two Pakistanis and an Afghan man, with more transfers expected as word spreads about the comfortable housing and freedom of movement.
“Yesterday we had some more people here for visiting and they also decide to come,” said Mollaghlipour.
“We can say that we have real living in there ... Australian immigration and PNG immigration really help us.
“This place [the East Lorengau transit facility] is very different with our last place and I'm really, really happy to live there and I don't have any problems.”
Local residents have told the ABC the accusations of tensions between them and the asylum seekers have been exaggerated.
Security guards and former guards at the detention centre said they felt sorry for the majority of the detainees and considered them brothers.
“People in Manus maybe they want these refugees to stay with us because we need them to stay with us to develop our province or our country in Papua New Guinea,” said one man, who works at the centre and chatted to Mollaghlipour as they walked through the market.
Others spoke of smuggling in special food for asylum seekers and criticised the strictness of expatriate guards.
When asked his opinion about the current protests and hunger strikes at the Australian-run detention centre, Mollaghlipour struggled to fully express himself in English and tried to be diplomatic.
“I cannot say they are right or they aren't right but the majority of people from there don't have any purpose, unfortunately.”
“I cannot say that I refuse [disagree with] them or I accept them, but in my understanding they never do that and they have to really think.”
“I hope they can really think,” he said.
The PNG and Australian governments have been firm in saying the only options for asylum seekers on Manus Island are to return to their home country or resettle in Papua New Guinea.
At least 50 men have been granted refugee status by the PNG government, including a human resources manager and a jeweller.
The refugees will not settle permanently on Manus Island but will study the country's main language and complex cultures while they wait for a job opportunity in another province.
Mollaghlipour is eager to put his skills as a civil engineer to use.
“I hope I will be one useful person for this country,” he said.
SOURCE: ABC/PACNEWS
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