Australian Senator Nick McKim announced on Wednesday, April 26, that he would travel to Manus Island carrying messages of hope for detainees held there after seeking refugee status in Australia.
McKim said he would speak to “as many detainees as I can, to listen to their stories about how they ended up there, to hear about life indefinitely on Manus Island.”
According to the ABC McKim intended to investigate a Good Friday shooting incident on Manus Island, by speaking with Papua New Guinea Police. Exactly what sparked the shooting by PNG navy personnel remains disputed.
“And when I’m there it will give me a chance to pass on messages from the many Australians who I know do not support what the Australian government is doing on Manus Island and Nauru,” McKim said. “Australians who are decent, compassionate, respectful people who are saying very clearly that what is being done on Manus Island and Nauru by the Australian government is not being done in their names.”
Those who wished to send a message via the Senator were urged to do so via social media using the hashtag #messagesformanus.
