Manus Island riot: Asylum seeker speaks of witnessing Reza Berati's death

Updated

The ABC has obtained an eyewitness account of the murder of 23-year-old Iranian asylum seeker Reza Berati during the February riot inside the Manus Island detention centre.

The account is one of 12 from asylum seekers obtained by Lateline.

They detail a series of alleged violent incidents leading up to and including the clashes on February 17 which left more than 60 asylum seekers injured.

The accounts, which Lateline cannot independently verify, have now been lodged with Papua New Guinea's authorities and come as separate official inquiries continue.

A spokesman for Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says a range of independent inquiries, including police and coronial investigations, are underway and are fully supported by the Australian Government.

In the account of Mr Berati's death, it is claimed he was beaten with a wooden stick and kicked before being hit on the head with a rock.

The fellow Iranian asylum seeker says Mr Berati went to the detention centre's internet room to raise the alarm during the riot, then he returned to his room.

The asylum seeker describes how a local PNG man was the first to attack Mr Berati outside his room.

"When Reza came up the stairs (censored) was at the top of the stairs waiting for him," the witness claimed.

"He was holding a large wooden stick, a metre-and-a-half long. It had two nails in the wood. The nails were sticking out.

"(Censored) said: 'F*** you m***** f*****!' (Censored) took a big swing at Reza, hitting him on top of the head."

The account suggests the presence of two Australian G4S security staff.

"Ten or 15 guards from G4S came up the stairs. Two of them were Australians. The rest were PNG locals, I know who they are. I can identify them by their face," the asylum seeker said.

"They started kicking Reza in his head and stomach with their boots."

The account says a local man landed a final blow on Mr Reza.

"There was a local ... I recognise him. He picked up a big rock," the asylum seeker said.

"He lifted the rock above his head and threw it down hard on top of Reza's head."

Human rights lawyer Julian Burnside says it is evidence the Australian Government failed to protect hundreds of innocent people.

"Whichever way you look at it, the people who are placed by Australia in the detention centre, to guard the refugees, have been involved in assaulting and killing one of them," he said.

Statements detail alleged threats, bashings in detention centre

The 12 statements all describe appalling conditions at the centre, variously described as intensely hot, filthy and mosquito-infested.

They also claim abuse by local and Australian security guards, alleging racist insults, bashings, and a black market trade in drugs.

One of the statements says an Australian guard told asylum seekers: "You are smelly ones, get back to your boat and go back to your country."

Another asylum seeker described an Australian G4S guard attacking his friend.

"I saw one of the security guards, Australian, punch my friend and ... throw him to the other side of the wall," the statement said.

Asylum seekers staged non-violent protests for three weeks leading up to February 17, requesting information about when their claims would be processed and where they would be settled.

But on February 16 they were officially told they had no chance of getting to Australia.

They reportedly grew violent, abusing local guards and denigrating PNG.

Iranian interpreter Azeta Bokan described how a mood of despair preceded a violent reaction.

"The men had no weapons so they threw fruit at the guards, mostly peaches," she said.

"The response of the guards was to use rocks and metal legs of dismantled tables destined for junking to attack the detainees."

Asylum seeker says local man cut his throat

Interactive: Australia’s offshore immigration centres Find out more about Australia’s operations on Christmas Island, Manus Island and Nauru.

A total of 30 asylum seekers reportedly escaped when the gates were opened on February 16.

When they were caught by locals they were allegedly bashed and one man said his throat was cut.

"We were surrounded by PNG guys. I saw an arm and a knife come from behind, and he cut my throat, from side to side. He cut me again on the left side," the man said.

"The PNG local grabbed me by the hair from behind and pushed my head down.

"There was a lot of blood. When I saw the blood on my t-shirt, I realised that my throat had been cut. My t-shirt and clothes were soaked in blood.

"When I got to the gate, there was an Australian G4S, called (censored). He was kicking me with the bottom of his shoes.

"After two hours a doctor came and stitched my wound."

Security company G4S's role on Manus Island ended last week when it handed responsibility to Wilsons Security.

G4S says it has fully cooperated with the PNG police investigation, facilitating interviews with 10 expatriate G4S guards and numerous local PNG officers.

It says it will not comment on specific allegations while investigations are underway.

A spokesman for the Immigration Minister says Australia will provide assistance to the PNG investigation.

"The Australian Government is committed to continue to provide all assistance necessary, if requested by PNG authorities, to finalise their official police investigation into the incident, including providing legal assistance for witnesses to alleged criminal acts," the spokesman for Mr Morrison said.

The spokesman says Australian and PNG ministers also agreed to facilitate interviews of persons of interest who are no longer in PNG and agreed that all relevant information from the independent administrative reviews would be handed over to the police investigation to enable swift prosecutions.

Topics: refugees, immigration, foreign-affairs, government-and-politics, world-politics, australia

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