Prisoners on Manus Island reported internal doors were temporarily opened on Thursday night, and guards had stopped performing searches on them.
Free movement was allowed between compounds before it was later restricted on Friday afternoon. From then detainees were only allowed to move between compounds where people had the same refugee determination.
“We can say that we got freedom inside our prison tonight,” said Behrouz Bouchani, a Kurdish-Iranian detainee on Manus Island, after the gates were opened.
“Some of the people are singing and the young boys have a lot of positive energy, they are active,” he said.
“The torturing system completely collapsed today and officers and case managers are only watching. I saw some officers say congratulations to refugees and get them in a hug. All people are happy, this is a big moment to forget the past three years.”
Bouchani said people were discussing where they would now go, with many hoping for New Zealand.
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