The Papua New Guinea Minister for Immigration and Border Security Westly Nukundi Nukundj says he is shocked and appalled on the report of the Bangladesh national being brutalized at Bomana Immigration Centre (BIC).
He said any foreigner detained at the BIC deserves the full protection from the law and the report of the foreign national of Bangladesh origin being seriously assaulted whilst in the custody of PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority at BIC is a serious case of human rights abuse perpetrated by agents of State and its criminal in nature.
“Those officers involved whether Immigration Officers or Police Mobile Squad officers are not above the law and I will sanction a full scale investigation both administrative and criminal and also I will be writing to Police Commissioner to involve Police Internal Affairs Unit and Policing the Police Task Force team to investigate involvement of police officers.
“I will also call for the withdrawal of Mobile Squad at the BIC as we are not at a war zone as this place can be manned by a security company.
“Our foreign friends have funded this institution and continue to support us in millions to run the BIC Centre and such inhuman treatment of detainees is against the international human rights convention and PNG Constituon on the right to full protection from the law.
“In the coming weeks I will invoke my powers under the laws to set up a special internal investigation team to work with police to get down to the bottom of this incident.
“In the meantime engagement will police Mobile Squad at BIC will cease forthwith as police officers are not trained to handle refugees and cases of illegal foreigners,” Mr Nukundj said.