A protest by police and civil servants over pay cuts on Wednesday turned into a riot. Television footage showed thousands of people pouring into the streets of the capital Port Moresby, many carrying what appeared to be looted goods, as black smoke billowed over the city.
Looting and arson during protests against police pay cuts in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on January 10, 2024. Photo: Femli Studio
Nine people were killed in rioting in Port Moresby and seven in Lae, in the north of the gold and copper mining nation, Australian broadcaster ABC reported on Thursday.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape told a news conference that he had suspended the police chief and several other top officials, while a review was launched into the causes of the riots.
“There is evidence of organised rioting taking place,” he told reporters, adding that about 1,000 soldiers were on standby to prevent further unrest. Violence in the capital Port Moresby eased on Thursday, with authorities deploying extra police to maintain order.
Rioters gathered outside the gates of the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister's Office in Port Moresby. Photo: ABC News
The US Embassy in Port Moresby said police were back at work but tensions remained high. The Chinese Embassy said some Chinese citizens suffered minor injuries, with Chinese-owned shops vandalized and looted.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the country's high commissioner was monitoring the situation and Australia had not received any requests for assistance from Papua New Guinea, a country it regularly provides policy and security support to.
“We continue to appeal for calm at this difficult time. We have not received any requests from the PNG Government at this time but… our friends in Papua New Guinea, we have a great relationship with them,” he said.
Protesters smashed stores and looted. Photo: ABC News
Police in Papua New Guinea have struggled with a rise in violent crime over the past year. Prime Minister Marape said the increased security would help attract foreign investment in the country’s gold and copper resources.
Police protested on Wednesday morning after discovering their pay packets had been reduced. However, the Papua New Guinea government denied reports circulating on social media that a new tax had been imposed on police, and Mr Marape said any administrative errors that caused the pay cuts would be corrected.
A Papua New Guinea official told local radio station FM100 on Wednesday that without police the city would be "out of control".
Huy Hoang (according to ABC News, Reuters)
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