Australian Open final interrupted by Manus Island protesters

Protesters angry with Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s controversial refugee detention centre on Manus Island made their feelings known on Sunday when they ran onto court during the Australian Open men’s final and unfurled a banner demanding its closure.

Serbian Novak Djokovic was leading Britain’s Andy Murray 4-3 in the second set when the demonstrators ran onto the court in the Rod Laver Arena and draped their banner, which read “Australia Open for Refugees #shutdownmanus”, above sponsor’s logos in a bid to highlight the issue to the watching world.
Two women who ran onto the court were arrested and four others wearing t-shirts with the message on were escorted out of the stadium. Although Channel 7 opted not to show footage of the incident and banner on TV, thousands of video clips and photos were posted online.

The group later said that they wanted to create the “international media spectacle” to expose the horrific conditions, torture and abuse that are present on Manus Island. They said they would not remain silent because if they did, there would be no telling what the government was capable of.

Australia’s offshore detention initiative for refugees, which also includes a camp in the Pacific island of Nauru, has been a source of major controversy, particularly the centre on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island.

Two men died on Manus last year, one as a result of a preventable infection and the other after being bashed during a riot. There are also widespread reports of violence, including rape, and the use of solitary confinement.