An injured student is rushed to the emergency room at Port Moresby General Hospital after several demonstrators were injured yesterday when police reportedly shot into a crowd of students. Picture: Getty
FOREIGN minister Julie Bishop has offered help to the PNG government after dozens of student protesters were shot during clashes with police in the capital Port Moresby.
A Papua New Guinea court has since granted an injunction barring university students from protesting alleged high-level government corruption on campus.
The PNG government has denied reports of up to four deaths after police opened fire on protesters and states only five people were wounded.
A groundswell of political unrest in recent weeks has surged in the country amid calls for Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to resign over corruption allegations.
This picture provided by the PNGFM News shows a police officer gesturing while talking to students prior to their march from the University of the Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby. Picture: AFPSource:AFP
CORRUPTION UNREST
PNG Higher Education Minister Malakai Tabar welcomed the court order blocking students from resuming their rolling protests, blaming the violence on “thuggery” and opportunists in the political opposition.
The injunction had been sought by the university.
The government has launched an inquiry to determine the reasons for the continued student unrest which it argues is driven by “outsiders” with political agendas.
“The overwhelming majority of students simply want to go to class, sit their exams and proceed to the next semester,” Tabar told the ABC.
Thousands of students have been protesting and boycotting classes for weeks after a string of scandals raised fears of high-level corruption.
Student protest leader Noel Anjo told Reuters this morning the protesters had no intention of giving up.
“The students are not going to give up until and unless the prime minister resigns or surrenders himself to police and is arrested and charged,” Anjo said by phone from Port Moresby. “This fight will continue.”
Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, left, is welcomed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe late last month. Picture: APSource:AP
AUSTRALIA OFFERS ASSISTANCE
AAP reports Australia is offering the PNG government help to prevent further unrest.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the situation in the capital Port Moresby and some other towns remains volatile.
Australian Federal Police officers on the ground are determining what impact the protests could have across the country.
Ms Bishop says it’s of major concern should clashes escalate. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has offered his counterpart help but it has yet to be accepted.
“We can provide support, but of course it has to be requested by PNG,” Ms Bishop told ABC radio this morning.
“Obviously lawful and peaceful protests should be allowed.”
Ms Bishop said she had been unable to confirm how many people were killed.
“Until there’s official confirmation our understanding is that people were injured but we’ve not been able to confirm any deaths,” she said.
“We have called on the PNG Government for calm, for proportionate responses to any protests and that protests should be peaceful and lawful.
“In the meantime, we have urged Australians who are visiting PNG to exercise a high degree of caution because it is a volatile situation and not only in Port Moresby but across PNG there could be tensions flaring up and we don’t want this to escalate.”