Armed police move in on PNG university protests

Transcript

Armed police have moved in on the University of Papua New Guinea's campus in Port Moresby as student protests enter a third week.

The entire student body has been boycotting classes protesting against the prime minister Peter O'Neill's refusal to step down from office amid a corruption scandal.

The university's vice chancellor, Albert Mellam, has issued a notice saying the university's campuses will be sealed because some students' activities border on criminality. The notice says police have been invited on campus to protect students, faculty members and university property. But a prominent PNG activist Noel Anjo says he believes bringing the police on campus is like adding fuel to a burning fire

NOEL ANJO: They are fully equipped like going to a war. The students said they will welcome the police to campus and they can, the police men can go into class. They can attend class and the students will come out and conduct public awareness.

Police have so far been unreachable for comment but statements from officers on the ground on PNG Loop say they are acting on orders and will remain on campus for as long as they are needed. But a student leader Hercules Jim says rather than making them feel safe and secure the police occupation of the University Campus is frightening students.

HERCULES JIM: If we had only a few police vehicles, like maybe five or ten or so then it would be okay. But we have a total of more than 40 vehicles this is a disgrace to our nation. We haven't touched anything, we are not criminals, we are intellectuals we have been working according to the laws and regulations of universities and of the nation.

Mr Jim says students will continue to boycott classes and plan to go out and conduct public awareness about why they are protesting.

HERCULES JIM: Peter O Neil must respect the integrity of the office of the prime minister of this nation. Because there are many allegations attached to him and the people the university students have lost confidence that is why we ask him to respect the integrity of the office of the prime minister. Simply step down and face the full force of law.

A Papua New Guinea Opposition MP, Belden Namah, says Peter O'Neill is using the police to shut down protests against him. Mr Namah says by stopping protests people's constitutional rights are removed.

BELDEN NAMAH: If he cannot allow police investigations to go on, if he cannot submit himself to the rule of law what else is there? He is bringing the entire country down. Not me. Not the University students. It is Peter O Neil bringing the entire country down.

Meanwhile reports in the Post Courier newspaper say there are divisions within the student body over the protests and that many students feel the protests have gotten out of hand. The paper reports some students claiming they have been coerced to take part by students wielding machetes. Nevertheless UPNG student leaders say they have invited prime minister Peter O'Neill to attend a public gathering on campus later this week to formally receive a petition from the student body calling for his resignation. Mr O'Neill could not be reached for comment.