More violence between students and security forces has broken out at the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.
UPNG student rally at the Waigani Campus. Photo: UPNG4PNG
Following the police shooting of protesting students on June the 8th, today's violence involved students and university security personnel known as Uniforce.
One of the student leaders, Henry Norrie-Maim, said the violence broke out after Uniforce tried to force a group of students to end their boycott and return to class.
"There were some students at the campus and Uniforce came and told them to go back to class," he said.
"The students explained that they were waiting for the peace mediation team to come and conduct the reconciliation ceremony, and then we might go back to classes next week, Monday."
"But Uniforce said they must go to class today, and that's when the students got frustrated and the violence broke out," said Mr Norrie-Maim.
"Uniforce tried to use force, using flares to chase the students out, but that brought back the frustration from two weeks ago."
"They (students) chased Uniforce out, they blocked every road into the campus. They burned at least four Uniforce cars," he said.
Loop PNG reported that the violence might have broken out after Uniforce intervened to stop one group of students from intimidating another who wanted to go to class.
A Uniforce guard was alleged to have been injured in the clash, but Mr Norrie-Maim said no students had been hurt.
University administrators could not be reached for comment.
Students have requested reconciliation with the administration, from whom they want an apology for not condemning the police shooting.
Students across PNG have been boycotting classes since the beginning of May while demanding the Prime Minister step down to face fraud allegations.
