2024 Papua New Guinean unrest
Date10 January 2024–present
(5 days)
Location
Port Moresby, Lae, Madang, Goroka, Kokopo, Rabaul, Kavieng, Bulolo

9°28′S 147°08′W / 9.467°S 147.133°W / -9.467; -147.133
Caused byPay reduction of security officers
Proposed changes to tax code
MethodsArson, looting, rioting
Resulted inSuspension of national police chief
Suspensions of cabinet officials
State of emergency declared
Casualties
Death(s)22+[1]
Injuries41+[2]
ArrestedUnknown

The 2024 Papua New Guinean unrest started on 10 January 2024 in Papua New Guinea's capital Port Moresby, later spreading to Lae and other cities. The unrest began following protests by security officers due to a sudden reduction in their salaries and Prime Minister James Marape's tax deduction announcement which was later retracted. The riots saw arson, looting and various civil unrests.[3] At least 22 people were killed.[1] Marape later declared a state of emergency for 14 days and suspended the country's police chief and several top officials.[4]

Background

The riots came amidst socioeconomic issues affecting the country such as rising inflation and high unemployment.[5] In 2018, a protest over payments saw the country's parliament attacked by security forces.[2]

Events

The unrest began on 10 January following a protest by about 200 police, military and corrections officers[6] that began at the Ungi Oval in Port Moresby before proceeding outside the National Parliament[7] over sudden pay deductions that reached up to 50%, which Prime Minister James Marape attributed to a computer error,[5] as well as rumours of new taxes introduced by the government,[8] that were subsequently denied by the country's Internal Revenue Commission.[1] The protesters opened the gates of the parliament compound and were met by Police Minister Peter Siamali Jr.. However, his response to their grievances was regarded as unsatisfactory by the protesters, which prompted them to withdraw their services.[9]

Rioting began in the capital at around 2 p.m.[10] before spreading to Lae, Kokopo, Goroka, Madang, Bulolo, Kavieng and Rabaul.[11][12] Several shops were looted in the riots, while a security rail was torn off[13] and a police vehicle was set on fire outside the Prime Minister's office,[4] along with the guard house of the National Parliament building. The rioters were also reported to have threatened firefighters responding to incidents[8] and destroyed ATMs.[14] A hospital was forced to evacuate its patients after fires broke out in nearby shops.[15]

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force was subsequently deployed to the streets to restore order.[4] The US embassy reported gunfire near its compound as police dispersed looters.[13]

At least 22 people were killed, 15 in Port Moresby and seven in Lae. At least six of the fatalities were discovered in shops that had been looted and burned during the riots.[1] At least 41 people were injured, with 30 of them sustaining gunshot wounds, six others lacerated by bushknives and the remaining five treated for burns.[2] Two Chinese nationals also suffered "light" injuries.[13]

Aftermath

In response to the unrest, Prime Minister James Marape declared a state of emergency for 14 days and announced that at least 1,000 soldiers were on standby to intervene if "necessary".[4] He also announced the suspension of David Manning as head of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary as well as that of Finance Secretary Sam Penias, Treasury Secretary Andrew Oaeke and Secretary for Personnel Management Taies Sansan and the launching of an investigation into the unrest to be led by the Chief Secretary of State and the Justice Secretary, adding that the riots appeared to have been "organised".[12]

On 11 January, 180 military personnel were flown into Port Moresby.[16] On the same day, six MPs, including two members of Marape's Pangu Pati,[12] resigned from their positions in Marape's government, citing a loss of confidence in Marape's leadership in its response to the unrest.[17] Two of them, namely former Vice Minister of National Planning James Nomane and Kieth Iduhu, also called on Marape to resign and blamed him as well as the police and treasury ministers for the crisis.[12][7]

Many goods stolen in the riots were returned over the weekend following an appeal by Acting Police Commissioner Donald Yamasombi for people possessing such items to leave them outside their homes for the security forces to retrieve. A couple in Lae was also arrested for making statements supporting the looters and disparaging the police on social media.[18]

Reactions

Domestic

The National Capital District's governor Powes Parkop described the unrest in Port Moresby as an "unprecedented level of strife",[13] which prompted him to directly request the Australian government to be "on stand-by".[1] The Papua New Guinea Post-Courier called 10 January the city's "darkest day."[13]

Leader of the Opposition Joseph Lelang called the rioters "opportunists"[19] but also said the riots were the only way "many frustrated people" could air their grievances and called on Marape's government to address the situation.[20] Peter O'Neill, Marape's predecessor as prime minister, called Marape's claims of the riots being organized as "ludicrous" and accused him of "passing blame so he can justify his incompetence."[21] Luther Wenge, the governor of Morobe Province, called on parliament to convene an emergency session to discuss multiple issues, including a no-confidence vote against Marape.[18]

International

China formally filed a complaint to the Papua New Guinean government after several of its nationals were injured and several Chinese-owned businesses were targeted in the riots. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that Australia was monitoring the situation.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Death toll in PNG riots jumps to 22 after gruesome discovery of bodies in burnt out shops". ABC Australia. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Troops restore order after riots in Papua New Guinea". RTL. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  3. ↑ Kuku, Rebecca (10 January 2024). "Moresby burns". The National. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Papua New Guinea declares state of emergency after 15 killed in riots". Al Jazeera. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Papua New Guinea: At least 15 dead after major rioting and looting". BBC News. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "Papua New Guinea's security personnel storm parliament". RNZ. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Papua New Guinea rocked by violence as pay error prompts police walkout, riots and looting". CNN. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Papua New Guinea capital rocked by violent riots as police strike over pay". The Guardian. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "Calm expected after Port Moresby riots but difficult to get looters off street without force". RNZ. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  10. ↑ "What is happening in PNG? The violent rioting over a pay 'glitch' explained". ABC Australia. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  11. ↑ "ENB imposes five-day curfew amid disturbances". The National. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "PNG's PM declares state of emergency as he suspends Police Commissioner". RNZ. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "Papua New Guinea Vows Crackdown After Riots Kill 15". VOA. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  14. ↑ "Shopping centre torched and shops looted in Papua New Guinea after 'glitch' short-changes public servants' pay packets". ABC Australia. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  15. ↑ "'Clear the streets and go home' PNG's Commissioner of Police". RNZ. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  16. ↑ "Riots in Papua New Guinea's 2 biggest cities reportedly leave 15 dead". Associated Press. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  17. ↑ "Violent riots in PNG leave 16 people dead, as PM declares state of emergency for 14 days". ABC Australia. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  18. 1 2 "Calls for confidence vote in PM Marape after deadly riots in Papua New Guinea". RNZ. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  19. ↑ "Papua New Guinea's PM James Marape says there was 'deep political influence' behind the deadly riots. Will he survive this crisis?". ABC Australia. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  20. ↑ "Shopping centre torched and shops looted in Papua New Guinea after 'glitch' short-changes public servants' pay packets". ABC Australia. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  21. ↑ "Port Moresby residents lose everything in riots blamed on dire economic situation and youth with poor prospects". ABC Australia. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.