Serious riots in Papua New Guinea | tagesschau.de

Protests, looting and burning shopping centre: Violent riots in Papua New Guinea. Earlier, the security officers were given wrong salaries. This seems to be due to a technical glitch.

Serious riots and looting have erupted in Papua New Guinea because many security officers are underpaid. Local media reported that what began as a peaceful demonstration by police and other officials in front of the parliament building in the capital Port Moresby unexpectedly turned into a dramatic security situation.

Violent protests also took place in front of the government headquarters, as seen in videos by the AFP news agency and online networks. A crowd tried to break the chain at the gate to the seat. Then the protestors tried to set fire to the guard booth. When this failed, they set fire to a police car, an AFP employee at the site said.

Technical failure as trigger

The riot is said to have taken place due to a technical glitch in the payment of salaries. So many civil servants were paid only half of what they earned. The victims went on strike thinking that their income had been reduced. Hundreds of civilians took advantage of this opportunity to loot shops.

Among others, a large shopping center was set on fire. The Post Courier newspaper reported that many shops in the city were looted. He posted pictures and videos of smoke billowing over the city and large numbers of people running through the streets. “Port Moresby burns,” the paper headlined.

It is still unclear who was responsible for the riots, although security forces responded. An AFP correspondent in Port Moresby said there was a mix of “police officers, soldiers and civilians”.

President appeals to citizens

According to Australian broadcaster ABC, the government has called in the military to quell the unrest. Emergency services were reportedly called several times to help the injured. Firing was also reported.

Prime Minister James Marab assured people the wrongful payment was wrong: “I want to appeal to citizens to protect our city,” he said. “Complaints of the police and officials will be resolved and the missing money will be paid in the next installment.”