At least 15 people have been killed in violent riots in Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby, after police walked out over pay, and protests descended into rioting and looting on Wednesday.
Some locals took advantage of police being on strike to set fire to shops and businesses in the capital.
Papua New Guinea Riots Killed At Least 15 People
TOPSHOT - People run with merchandise as crowds leave shops with looted goods amid a state of unrest in Port Moresby on January 10, 2024. A festering pay dispute involving Papua New Guinea's security forces on January 10 sparked angry protests in the capital, where a crowd torched a police car outside the prime minister's office. By Wednesday afternoon pockets of unrest had spread through the capital Port Moresby, with video clips on social media showing crowds looting shops and stretched police scrambling to restore order.
The CEO of Port Moresby general hospital, Paki Molumi, said on Thursday that nine people had died in the capital. The officials in the northern city of Lae have confirmed seven more deaths. Molumi reported that shops were set on fire, and citizens were robbed and assaulted after police and public sector workers protested over a pay cut that officials blamed on an administrative error.
The police and other public servants also held a demonstration at Parliament House. Paramedics responded to multiple call-outs involving gunshot wounds and severe burns. The officials described the rioting overnight as complete chaos. Videos of the riot showed warehouses destroyed by fire and large crowds of people engaging in looting and rioting.
On Thursday, there was still a lot of tension in Port Moresby as locals were asked to stay home, many businesses remained closed, and all public transportation was suspended. Prime minister James Marape announced at a press conference on Thursday that more police were being flown in to maintain peace. He said some people resorted to lawlessness when the police were out of work yesterday.
He called on protesting police to report back for duty to reassure the officers that their concerns were heard and being taken seriously. The government disseminated social media posts that denied a new tax had been imposed on police. Marape pledged to address any administrative error that had caused the pay shortfall.
Marape said it was an oversight by government payroll people to those businesses facing losses today. He added that the government took note of the residents' losses and apologized. He also vowed to look at a tax relief measure to recover some losses.
Read Also: California Avalanche Kills 1, Injures Another at Tahoe Ski Resort
Police Speak Out
Police commissioner David Manning reported that local health authorities continued to treat several people for major wounds and were expecting more people to report injuries.
Manning said that staff have been told to stay at the hospital premises and be alert for a mass casualty response.
He apologized for the error that had caused the problem and urged the officers to be patient as they settled the pay dispute. "This should not have happened and is disrespectful to our police and to any other affected public servant," he said.
Furthermore, Finance secretary Samuel Penias noted that the root of the issue was the error in the government payroll system.
Related Article: [UPDATE] Wave of Violence: Ecuador in Chaos After Gang Leader's Disappearance, TV Broadcast Raid
