PNG opposition backs student leaders

1:44 pm on 6 September 2016

Papua New Guinea's opposition leader Don Polye has described the termination of student leaders at the University of Papua New Guinea as unfair, unjust and a bad decision.

Papua New Guinea opposition leader Don Polye visits students who were injured in police shootings at the UPNG's Waigani campus.

Papua New Guinea opposition leader Don Polye visits students who were injured in police shootings at the UPNG's Waigani campus. Photo: PNG Opposition

Last week, student leaders at the University of Papua New Guinea were told by the institution's administration that they were permanently excluded from their studies.

Mr Polye said the reasons the university council gave were shallow and amounted to an abuse of its powers.

He said termination was not an appropriate tool to restore peace and order at the campus.

The student leaders had stood up for everybody to protect the state institutions, democracy and rule of law, Mr Polye said.

The student protest centred on demands that prime minister Peter O'Neill step aside and face corruption allegations.

In June, Mr O'Neill in turn accused Mr Polye and the opposition of attempting to use student issues for political gain.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs