In a statement, Colonel Ray Numa, says those involved in the incident on Manus on Friday will be brought to justice.
The fight erupted over the use of the naval base oval, he explains.
Col Numa says residents of the regional processing centre were supposed to vacate the oval by 6pm.
“It is alleged that when they were asked to do so to enable dependents of the base to play on the oval, some of them refused to leave.