Australians Hold Protests in Memory of Slain Iranian Reza Berati; Cambodia Considers Accepting Asylum Seekers

Over 4,000 Australians had come together in Sydney's Town Hall on Feb 23 to hold a candlelight vigil in memory of Iranian asylum seeker Reza Berati who was killed in the Manus Island detention facility.

The Chaser's Chris Taylor addressed the thousands of Australians with actress Imogen Bailey who appeared in a SBS television documentary series, Go Back to Where You Came From.

According to protest group GetUp, at least 15,000 people came out to attend the 600 "snap protests" all over Australia. The group said people rallied from Queensland cattle stations to the Federation Square in Melbourne. GetUp's national director Sam Mclean said thousands of people had "cried out for change."

The protests came following the news of the 23-year-old asylum seeker's death and 62 others who were injured after violence erupted in Australia's detention centre in Papua New Guinea.

Mr Mclean said people don't know what happens to asylum seekers in the Australia-run facility. He believes an independent investigation must be organised with proper public scrutiny.

Amnesty International has called on the Australian government to investigate the death of one asylum seeker, Reza Berati, on Manus Island, including dozens more who sustained serious injuries. Australian authorities have detained over 1,000 asylum seekers described as "shameful" processing center in a Papua New Guinea island.

Graham Thorn, a spokesman for Amnesty International Australia's Refugee, said the organization is concerned by recent events in Manus Island detention facility. He added Amnesty International has called for an immediate and independent investigation to know more about what occured and how such a tragic death of the Iranian asylum seeker came about.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has defended the actions of the government authorities in Manus Island. He said a senior immigration official is already in the facility to manage the ongoing investigation including the circumstances of Reza Berati's death.

Cambodia considers accepting asylum seekers

Meanwhile, Cambodia is reportedly considering Australia's request to take in asylum seekers. The Cambodian Foreign Minister was in a meeting with his Australian counterpart, Julie Bishop, to discuss the possibility of the Cambodian government and Prime Minister Hun Sen's approval.

According to SBS, the Cambodian government will be considering the request in a statement provided by spokesperson Phay Siphan. The Cambodian representative has confirmed a "significant level of cooperation" between both departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade.