PNG settlement under threat - in pictures

Rex Dagi, chairman of the ATS Oro Community Development Association, with his wife, Poly, and daughter Festina. 'We are human beings just like everyone else, not animals,' he said of Rudd’s announcement. 'You cannot remove us from our place like dogs. We will fight for our rights'
Photograph: Vlad Sokhin

The Edwards family moved to the ATS settlement in 2011 to live with their relatives
Photograph: Vlad Sokhin

According to statistics from the National Electoral Commission, the ATS settlement is home to some 16,000 people, 60% of whom are under the age of 29
Photograph: Vlad Sokhin

Frank Oera at the makeshift house he shares with his wife, daughter and granddaughter. Oera says he does not know where his family would go if they were evicted
Photograph: Vlad Sokhin

A boy poses with a wooden gun near his family’s makeshift house
Photograph: Vlad Sokhin

Roseline Mahiro lives with her seven children in a small house in the settlement. Although their home is very small and lacks running water, they do not want to move
Photograph: Vlad Sokhin

Women play cards at the settlement
Photograph: Vlad Sokhin

A family gets ready for a community meeting. The gathering discussed the PNG government’s recent decision to remove settlers from their homes and resettle asylum seekers here instead
Photograph: Vlad Sokhin

Rex Dagi talks to residents during a community meeting
Photograph: Vlad Sokhin

Ronny Kove was one of the settlers at the community meeting. 'Our houses were built on this land under the permission of former PNG prime minister Bill Skate,' he says. 'He allowed us to live here. We have all the papers. If Peter O'Neill wants us out of here, he will have to do it through court. But we have a message to him: We are not moving!'
Photograph: Vlad Sokhin