2024-01-11 05:29:38
Published11. January 2024, 06:29
Papua New Guinea: 15 people died in riots
A night of violent riots in Papua New Guinea’s two largest cities left 15 people dead. The Prime Minister apologized.
AFP
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape vowed to fight “anarchy” on Thursday, after 15 people died during a night of violent rioting in the country’s two largest cities.
Violence broke out in the capital Port Moresby on Wednesday evening after a group of soldiers, police officers and prison guards demonstrated against the government. Angry crowds burned buildings and ransacked shops during a night of chaos that quickly spread some 300 kilometers north to the town of Lae. Royal Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner David Manning confirmed on Thursday afternoon that at least 15 people had died in the country’s two main cities.
Prime Minister James Marape apologized to the country, saying outbursts of “anarchy” would “not be tolerated”. “It’s your country as much as mine. Breaking the law does not achieve certain goals,” he said at a press conference. Commenting on the riots, James Marape said the worst was over by Thursday morning, but he admitted that “the situation is still tense” in some areas of Port Moresby.
Buildings burned
Earlier, a smaller crowd gathered outside the prime minister’s office in Port Moresby, tearing down a security fence and setting fire to a parked police car. Beijing has filed a complaint with the Papua New Guinea government, following reports that rioters targeted Chinese-owned businesses.
“Darkest Day”
The governor of the region encompassing the capital, Powes Parkop, said the unrest represented an “unprecedented level of conflict” in Port Moresby, while the Post Courier, a local newspaper, called it “the darkest day” of the city. “What is most important is that we must end this conflict,” Powes Parkop insisted on a local radio station Wednesday evening, stressing that “no one will win from this type of civil unrest.”
Security forces staged a protest inside Papua New Guinea’s parliament after seeing their salaries cut without explanation. Although the government quickly promised to correct what it described as a “technical problem,” it was not enough to stop disgruntled civilians from joining the uproar.
This outbreak of violence highlights the instability of life in Papua New Guinea, a country plagued by poverty and a high crime rate. Located approximately 200 kilometers north of Australia, Papua New Guinea is the largest and most populous state in Melanesia. Although it is blessed with vast deposits of gas, gold and minerals, human rights groups estimate that nearly 40% of its nine million residents still live below the poverty line.
Australia recently struck a security deal with the country, promising to help its police force combat arms trafficking, drug smuggling and tribal violence. “We continue to call for calm during these difficult times,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday.
1704957394
#Papua #Guinea #people #died #riots