Papua New Guinea’s capital city, Port Moresby, has been plunged into a state of emergency for a period of 14 days. This drastic measure was announced by Prime Minister James Marape on Thursday, following violent riots that resulted in the tragic loss of 15 lives and widespread looting and arson.
The chaos erupted on Wednesday evening when a group of soldiers, police officers, and prison guards took to the streets to protest unexplained deductions from their salaries. The unrest quickly escalated and spread to Lae, a city located approximately 300 kilometers north of the capital.
Prime Minister Marape has put over 1,000 troops on standby to manage any further escalation of the situation. Police Commissioner David Manning confirmed the death toll from the violent clashes in Port Moresby and Lae.
Port Moresby’s largest hospital reported treating 25 individuals for gunshot wounds and six others for lacerations caused by “bush knives”. Scenes of looters ransacking stores and making off with stolen goods were captured by AFPTV. The footage also showed buildings and cars set ablaze, with thick black smoke billowing over the city.
The U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby reported gunfire near its premises as police attempted to disperse looters. A smaller group of protesters was seen outside the Prime Minister’s office, where they damaged a security gate and set a police car on fire.
The Chinese government has lodged a formal complaint with Papua New Guinea following reports of Chinese-owned businesses being targeted by rioters. Two Chinese nationals were reportedly injured in the violence.
Despite the turmoil, a resident of Port Moresby, Maho Laveil, reported that peace had largely been restored by Thursday evening. National Capital District governor Powes Parkop described the unrest as an “unprecedented level of strife” in the city.
In response to the initial protests over pay deductions, the government promised to rectify what it referred to as a “payroll glitch.” However, this did not prevent civilians from joining the protests. Four department heads, including Police Commissioner David Manning, have been suspended for 14 days in connection with the payroll issue.
Papua New Guinea, the largest and most populous state in Melanesia, is known for its vast natural resources but also struggles with high levels of poverty and crime. Australia recently signed a security agreement with Papua New Guinea, pledging assistance to combat crime and violence.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged for calm during these challenging times.
(AFP)