[ad_1]
The unrest continued in Port Moresby as a result of Apec's conference held over the weekend and the taking of parliament by "disgruntled" police and correctional officers on Tuesday.
Residents reported sporadic gunfire in the Papua-Guinean capital Wednesday night. The police reportedly warned the people concerned not to call them because they did not want to answer.
On Wednesday, according to EMTV, landowners in the province of Hela reportedly damaged the offices of the oil and energy department during the latest wave of longstanding protests against non-payment of royalties.
Several hundred members of the joint security task force stormed parliament in Waigani on Tuesday, blocking roads, smashing doors and windows and destroying entrances. Some members of the parliamentary staff were also attacked, according to opposition members who were in nearby meeting rooms.
The group – which had the support of the PNG Police Association – was dissatisfied with not receiving any compensation for the work done at the regional conference.
The group eventually dispersed after a meeting with ministers, but unrest spread and looting and gunfire were reported in some parts of the city. The police reportedly used tear gas to chase people away.
Chris Hawkins, chief executive of Apec and senior adviser to Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, issued a statement on Tuesday stating that this was an administrative problem and that payments had already begun. He asked the agents to check their accounts on Wednesday.
However, many officers said they received only a fraction of what was owed to them and would have met Wednesday afternoon to reject the partial payments.
Police spokesman Dominic Kakas said the Ministry of Finance had only released half of the funds needed for the payment, but pledged to release the rest next week.
Powes Parkop, Governor of the National Capital District that includes Port Moresby, said the city was safe, but demanded consequences against officers who stormed Parliament.
"I call everyone involved to take the measures that are required – that it is about arrests, suspensions, salary reduction to repair damage or total dismissal, "he told Radio NZ.
"Your job is to protect the country and not to cause tension and chaos."
Police Minister Jelta Wong said that no officer would be suspended, but then claimed that he was misquoted and that he only referred to the carriers. group word.
"Those who have stormed and caused damage to our national parliament will be investigated," he said.
On the day of the incident, the police association said the non-payment was a "slap".
The PNG government, led by O'Neill since 2011, has been the subject of numerous protests over the years, mainly against public spending, alleged corruption and cronyism while the vast majority of citizens lived in poverty .
In 2016, police fired on crowds of student protesters in Port Moresby to demand the resignation of Mr. O. Neill in the aftermath of a corruption scandal.
Last month, a national boycott protested public spending on Apec, including the purchase of 40 Maserati and three Bentley. Apec's minister, Justin Tkachenko, rejected the public outcry, claiming that all cars would be bought by the "private sector", thus repaying the government completely.
On Thursday, Loop PNG announced that cars should be the subject of a call for tenders. Tkachenko does not know which leaders have used the Maserati, says the report.
The country is currently facing a national health crisis, including drug shortages and epidemics of polio and drug-resistant TB.
Salaries of teachers and other civil servants have been reduced and rural areas, where more than 80 per cent of the population lives, still lack roads and infrastructure in poor condition.
The mountainous regions are still recovering from a deadly and devastating earthquake earlier this year.
The PNG police have been contacted for a comment.
