'They are dismantling everything and threatening to use force now'

"Police and immigration officials have spilled all the water we had saved and are threatening us with severe consequences if we don't leave," detainee Ravinder Singh told SBS Punjabi from Manus Island Detention Centre. "Things have become much worse over the past two days."

Marquee being dismantled inside the Manus Island detention centre Source: SBS Punjabi

"The security fences around the compound have been taken down and tents have been dismantled," Ravinder said. "People have died here before, and anything can happen now."

The Australian government had decommissioned the detention centre last week, cutting off the electricity and water supplies, along with sanitation facilities. Despite that, nearly 600 detainees have chosen to stay inside the detention centre.

Detainees had filled plastic bins with water, after water supply was cut last week. Ravinder told SBS Punjabi, the officials spilt all the saved water today Source: Supplied

"We had saved water in large plastic bins, but when the police and immigration officials came in today, they spilled all the water we had saved. They are taking everything away, and anything can happen now," said Ravinder, who has been in the detention centre at Manus Island since December 2013.

Yesterday, PNG Immigration officials gave the detainees a final ultimatum to leave the premises by the end of today (Friday Nov 10). But according to Ravinder, "Most detainees have stayed on. Only those people have left, who were ill or very frail."

A view from inside the detention centre Source: Supplied

"I can see there is one Australian official sitting outside the compound, directing all the activities, who is telling the PNG police and immigration officials what to do."

'We don't expect anything from the Australian government - we only want to be resettled into a safe country. Many of the detainees have been resettled in Nauru, America and New Zealand. We just need a safe passage to a safer place."

"Our lives are in extreme danger inside the detention centre and outside as well. We are not safe here," said Ravinder.

The condition inside Manus Island detetntion centre Source: Supplied

"I don't understand why Mr Peter Dutton has made this a political issue. It is a humanitarian issue. It's not right to play politics like this - the PNG government has made so much money out of this detention centre. But we have been stuck here for four years, we deserve to be resettled safely now. Earlier, they had promised us that force won't be used on us, but now, it seems like that may change."

Ravinder went on to add, "I want to thank all the people in Australia, who for the sake of humanity, are standing by us. We are watching the news and really thank them for standing in solidarity with us. '

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