Time has come for an amnesty for those suffering on Manus and Nauru

On the night of May 18, as the results of the federal election became apparent, reports of distress began coming in from refugees marooned on Nauru and Manus Island.

• Arnold Zable
• The Age

They had been following the count with a sense of anxiety and hope.

With a Coalition victory looming they began to sink into despair.

In the weeks since, the despair has persisted and deepened.

There have been reports that men on Manus Island have set themselves on fire, most recently as last week.

Kurdish writer and journalist Behrouz Boochani, who has borne witness to the plight of his…

• Time has come for an…