Salvos worker ‘led attack’ on Manus victim
A Papua New Guinean man employed by the The Salvation Army led the “brutal beating” that killed Iranian asylum seeker Reza Barati during the riot on PNG’s Manus Island, an independent review has been told.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison on Monday released the long-awaited review – conducted by former public servant Robert Cornall – into the February violence.
He said the government had accepted all 13 of its recommendations.
The review found there was no particular factor that caused the violence.
“It is not possible to isolate one factor which, if handled differently, may have resulted in less injuries and damage or to apportion blame for causing the incidents directly to one or more of the parties involved,” it says.
But it says frustration and anxiety over a lack of information about resettlement policies was a key contributor to the tensions.
The review says Barati, 23, suffered a severe brain injury “caused by a brutal beating by several assailants”.
The review interviewed an eye-witness to the attack.
“He said the attack was led by an identified PNG national employed by The Salvation Army and he named several other witnesses who he says can corroborate his statement.”
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At least 69 people were treated for injuries as a result of the violence.
Morrison described the events as “terrible and tragic”.
He said the review’s recommendations had either already been implemented, or were in the process of being implemented.
