Papua New Guinea Plunged into Chaos: Pay Dispute Triggers Police Walkout, Unleashing Riots and Looting
Papua New Guinea in chaos as pay dispute sparks widespread violence, riots, and looting Prime Minister vows consequences for the unrest, while facing mounting pressure to step down
Papua New Guinea grappled with the aftermath of violent riots and looting in the capital Port Moresby on Thursday, as the prime minister pledged consequences in the face of calls for his resignation and appeals from China to protect its citizens and businesses. The chaos unfolded on Wednesday, as shops were plundered and buildings were set ablaze following a protest by police over a pay cut, which government officials attributed to a payroll system error that would be fixed in the next pay cycle.
The exact number of casualties remains unknown, but numerous individuals were fatally wounded and many more were left injured. Emergency responders faced challenges in addressing the widespread chaos, as video evidence depicted crowds of individuals carrying crates of goods and provisions on the streets.
Papua New Guinea, a Pacific island country with a population of approximately 10 million, boasts abundant natural resources. However, its economic development has consistently lagged behind neighboring nations, and it is plagued by one of the highest crime rates internationally.
In a national address on Thursday, Prime Minister James Marape stated that security reports indicated that although the situation had "calmed down in the last 12 hours", there is still tension. He cautioned that the leaders of the police, defense, and finance operations would be "under scrutiny" and emphasized that "lack of discipline" among the police force would not be accepted.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko participate in a welcome ceremony at the Pacific Islands Forum Special Leaders Retreat in Nadi on February 23, 2023. (Photo by LEON LORD / AFP)
"We will thoroughly review all of this in an effort to bring stability and order back to our city and our country," he stated.
Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reported that at least 8 people were killed in Port Moresby, while Acting Metropolitan Superintendent of Lae Central Command, James Luan, told CNN that four had died in Lae, the capital of Morobe Province, the second largest city in Papua New Guinea.
The unrest has sparked diplomatic repercussions for the island nation, with Beijing demanding action against those who damaged Chinese-owned businesses. Approximately 20,000 Chinese citizens reside in PNG, and the country has a strong relationship with China, being one of the first Pacific Island nations to participate in its Belt and Road project.
The Chinese embassy in PNG issued a statement on their official WeChat account, expressing Beijing's concern over the attacks on Chinese citizens and urging PNG authorities to prioritize their safety. The statement also noted that some Chinese citizens sustained minor injuries during the attacks.
At least six members of parliament have stepped down, including James Nomane, former MP for Chuave in the Eastern Highlands, who is urging Marape to resign as well.
"James Marape should step down. The crisis is the result of deep-seated animosity from our public servants, stemming from widespread economic mismanagement," stated Nomane, a member of Marape's Papua and Niugini Union Party (Pangu) who previously served as Vice Minister of National Planning, in a video message.
"The prime minister, the treasurer, the police minister are 100% culpable. Things will only get worse unless we stop this rot."
Crowds on the streets of Port Moresby leave shops with bags of looted supplies and goods.
Andrew Kutan/AFP/Getty Images
A man carries off a freezer as crowds disperse.
Andrew Kutan/AFP/Getty Images
Pay issue triggers day of violence
Police officers and security officials convened at Ungai Oval park in Port Moresby on Wednesday to protest pay cuts. Subsequently, they proceeded to the National Parliament House, leading to escalating tensions on the streets when security personnel withdrew their services, according to government officials.
In a Facebook video message on Wednesday night, Port Moresby governor Powes Parkop issued a stern warning about the increasing violence. "We are witnessing an unprecedented level of unrest in our city, something that has never occurred before in the history of our city and our country," Parkop stated, condemning "opportunists" who exploited the situation as it "spun out of control."
The village of Hanuabada on the outskirts of PNG capital Port Moresby.
ROCKY ROE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Australia and Papua New Guinea have signed a significant security agreement. Emergency services have stated that the civil unrest in Port Moresby has greatly affected their operations. St John Ambulance PNG released a statement on Facebook, expressing their commitment to responding to life-threatening emergencies while prioritizing the safety and security of their staff.
Earlier, Marape publicly apologized and stated that the computer glitch had impacted "all public servants on government payroll." He assured that the shortfall would be rectified in the upcoming pay cycle.
On Thursday, the US embassy released a statement indicating that various local businesses, such as fuel stations and grocery stores, had suffered damage. Additionally, while the looting in Port Moresby had ceased, there were still high levels of tension.
The Chinese embassy in Papua New Guinea issued a notice on Thursday reminding Chinese citizens and organizations in the Pacific nation to enhance their security measures.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the government had no knowledge of any Australians being affected by the unrest and had not received any requests for aid or assistance from the government of Papua New Guinea.
The High Commission in Port Moresby is closely monitoring the situation to ensure the well-being of Australians," stated Albanese. "We are advocating for calm during this challenging period."
