Nauru, Manus Island refugees distressed by Trump

Transcript

The refugee action coalition's Ian Rintoul says the Australian government is in the dark about whether the US will take the refugees marooned on Nauru and Manus Island.

   "I think if they knew that they would say. That's been the government's position the whole way through. They've got no other resettlement arrangement for a couple of thousand people they've dumped in Nauru and Manus Island. They are depending on the US deal to provide some outcome from a very difficult political position they've put themselves in. Their backs are against the wall in that respect, so of course the government is going to say they've got every confidence the US deal is going to go ahead but the people who are paying the price are the people who are on Nauru."

After four years of imprisonment, the Kurdish journalist and Manus Island detainee, Behrouz Boochani, says for the refugees the uncertainty is tourturous.

   "The Australian government continues to play political games and to keep holding Nauru and Manus Island refugees in limbo. Under international convention it is our right to know where we will live and when we will leave this island it is time for stop torturing people by time."

A refugee from Iran, Amir Taghinia, says while he languishes in prison, Australia day is no cause for celebration.

   "Australia's day is actually day of genocide. So my understanding about this day is not a day to party. This day was the day that the Aboriginal land was occupied. They have taken their childrens away from them. So my understanding about their culture is now I'm not surprised that they have put us in prison."

President Trump could suspend the US refugee programme as early as today.

This is Ben Robinson Drawbridge.