Topic: Law, Crime and Justice. The University of Papua New Guinea has obtained a court order against further protest action after police yesterday opened fire on a crowd of students demonstrating against the country's Government. The students were trying to march to the national Parliament to continue a long-running protest against Prime Minister Peter O'Neill when the violence broke out. At least 17 people were injured in the confrontation, including one who received a gunshot wound to the head.
An opposition member reportedly told the country's Parliament that four people had been killed, but the PNG Government said claims of deaths were false. There were also reports of fighting and looting in other parts of PNG, as well as a truck and a building at the university being set on fire. Warning: This story contains graphic images. The uuniversity has since obtained an injunction preventing students from protesting and boycotting classes.
Police have also brought in extra officers, including recruits from the police college, to deal with any further outbreaks of violence around the capital. PNG Police Commissioner Gari Baki said an armed mob tried to burn down a police barracks, and that there were other confrontations between police and looters.
He said the students wanted to hand over a petition to Mr O'Neill, but the police reacted aggressively. Government advisers said it was not clear whether police had fired warning shots or fired directly into the crowd.
Mr O'Neill said there would be an investigation into who was funding the students and any outside "agitators" encouraging them to protest. The blood of the injured students is on the hands of those members and their supporters. He said Australia would continue to support PNG, but noted facts were still coming to light about the incident. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.
