In response to riots which resulted in the loss of 16 lives in the two main towns of Papua New Guinea, soldiers are patrolling the capital this Friday. Prime Minister James Marape vowed to restore calm after angry mobs seized the capital Port Moresby on Wednesday night, smashing windows, looting shops and setting buildings on fire.
Rioters will “pay the price” for outbreaks of “anarchy”, he promised, declaring a state of emergency for fourteen days in the capital starting Thursday evening. With 1,000 troops banding together to reinforce security, many of the city’s bank branches, gas stations and grocery stores began reopening their doors Friday.
“Anarchy and thoughtlessness” are not tolerated
Violence broke out in the capital on Wednesday evening, following anti-government demonstrations led by soldiers, police and prison guards who were protesting against unexplained cuts in their salaries. Many disgruntled civilians then joined the riots, and the violence spread to the town of Lae, some 300 kilometers to the north. Police and health authorities said at least 16 people were killed in the two cities, according to a new report released Friday.
James Marape acknowledged that security forces had a “real reason to be concerned”, and his government quickly promised to correct what he described as a “technical problem” that led to the observed pay cuts. But the Prime Minister warned that “anarchy and recklessness” would not be tolerated. “I want to signal to our country that enough is enough. Enough is enough,” he insisted.