Australia agrees to pay 70 million AUS dollars to Manus Island detainees

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The Australian government has settled a class action with 1,905 Manus Island detainees and will pay them more than 70 million AUS dollars (nearly 52.75 million US dollars).

The detainees had alleged they suffered serious physical and psychological injuries during their time on the Papua New Guinea Manus Island between 2012 and 2016.

They wanted compensation from the Australian government and the detention center manager for what they suffered.

Asylum-seekers look through a fence at the Manus Island detention center in Papua New Guinea on March 21, 2014. /Reuters Photo

"While fleeing religious persecution and violence, they came to Australia seeking protection, but rather than considering their cases on shore, the Government sent this vulnerable group of people to be held on Manus Island indefinitely," said Andrew Baker, the principal lawyer of the plaintiffs.

The class action was led by 35-year-old Iranian national Majid Karami Kamasaee, who was detained on Manus Island for 11 months from September 2013, and remains in a Melbourne detention center.

He attempted to reach Australia by boat from Indonesia, but it was intercepted by the Navy and he was transferred to the offshore processing center.

The photo taken on February 11, 2017 shows accommodation for detainees which can be seen inside the Manus Island detention center in Papua New Guinea. /Reuters Photo

Australian law firm Slater and Gordon, who represented the plaintiffs, confirmed Wednesday a deal had been struck with the government, but the full details of the settlement and the financial package agreed are yet to be fully approved by the court.

Although the amount of compensation is not known, this could be the largest human rights settlement in Australian legal history because of the length of detention, the condition on Manus and the number of plaintiffs, said Andrew Baker.

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