In a press release on the 28^th of May 2014, the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary stated that they would not rely on the Australian Government sanctioned independent investigation into the killing of Iranian asylum seeker Reza Barati at the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre.

Deputy Police Commissioner Simon Kauba raised serious concerns at the lack of cooperation by the relevant Australian Government agencies involved, the service providers at the Manus Detention Centre, the asylum seekers and most importantly the security firm G4S.

In relevance to the fact that the asylum detention centre is an agreement between Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) with location at Manus, it must be respected by all (including the Australian government and officials) to adhere by the host country (PNG’s) protocol and laws.

“Whilst the centre on Manus is an Australian Government funded and operated facility, it is on PNG soil and our laws and our powers take effect when a crime is committed here. However, our investigations have been frustrated from day one with a complete lack of cooperation from all involved including G4S employees as well as the asylum seekers themselves.”

 “In fact the asylum seekers as well as G4S officials and other service providers refused to give their statements to us and made it known that they preferred to talk only to Australian lawyers,” Deputy Police Commissioner Kauba said.

In an event as such the Australian officials should encourage the asylum seekers to appreciate the help PNG is supporting them with and their cooperation in times of distress or conflict, is paramount to accomplishment of good aid of the asylum seekers and the centre. Huge concern remains, that on PNG soil, all authority remains that of PNG, and any investigation into the unrest and killing of Reza Barati should be directed by the PNG Police Constabulary with respect to full state sovereignty. Thus, the independent investigation by Robert Cornall is deemed a private report and cannot be depended on to prosecute the case.

Deputy Police Commissioner Kauba further stated that, “the findings of the independent investigation is inconclusive and will not help us in anyway. In fact its release only hampers our on-going investigations into the riot within the Manus Detention Centre in which the Iranian asylum seeker was killed and more than 60 asylum seekers reportedly injured.”

Moreover, Kauba said from the investigations conducted by PNG police investigators there was a 10-15 minute major disturbance within the detention centre on February 17, 2014, between asylum seekers and local as well as expatriate employees of service providers including G4S. PNG policemen did not enter the detention centre either before or during the disturbance and were not involved in the riot, nor were they responsible for inflicting any injuries sustained by the asylum seekers. PNG police discharged warning shots into the air from outside the centre when the disturbance inside the detention centre seemed to be getting out of control and this helped to quieten the situation and whilst there were others involved in assaulting Reza Barati during the riot, PNG Police believe that it was the injuries inflicted by four detention workers, two Papua New Guineans and two expatriates which directly led to his death.

Deputy Police Commissioner Kauba also expressed concern at the manner in which PNG police were not able to interview any of the injured asylum seekers concluding, “we only learnt from media reports that they were secretly flown into Port Moresby and put up at a hotel where doctors visited and treated them. Media reports have said that police shot one of the asylum seekers. The only way we can confirm this is if the injured man is brought forward and appropriate tests conducted to confirm the nature of the injuries sustained. Otherwise, this whole matter stinks of a major cover-up.”