Protesting students at the University of Papua New Guinea have decided to continue boycotting classes despite calls from the university administrations for some classes to resume today.
Transcript
Protesting students at the University of Papua New Guinea have decided to continue boycotting classes despite calls from the university administrations for some classes to resume today.
The student boycott which began on May the 2nd is calling for Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, to step down and face corruption allegations.
Last week, the university said classes at the school of medicine and health sciences would recommence today while classes at the Waigani campus were to begin next Tuesday.
But a student leader Gerald Tulu Manu-Peni says the UPNG students representatives council met with medical students last night and it was agreed that class boycotts would continue.
Mr Manu-Peni who was at the UPNG medical campus this morning says classes are empty and everyone is attending a public forum which is a continuation of the student protests.
GERALD TULU MANU-PENI: From both campuses we are concentrating now on the medical faculty because their class will resume today. So we had a meeting with them and the outcome was that we will still not attend class. We will not attend class even though it may have whatever ramifications, academic ramifications against us we believe that what we are doing is for the good of this nation that is why.
KOROI HAWKINS: Right.
GTM: we can put our education on the line.
KH: Yes, and
GTM: So we will not attend class.
KH: Yes and you said there is a forum going on right now what is forum?
GTM: It is to like maintain, maintain the momentum of our campaign and at the same time it is to clarify a form that was given to them by the administration on Thursday and Friday some are still in the offices telling them that if you sign this you are allowed to go into class. So we have already signed the registration form at the beginning of the year so this is another form, what have we done or have to do that we will sign to go back to class because we have already registered. So we that forum is there to clarify them on that form and at the same time maintain the momentum and still maintain the solidarity and support of the students to continue on with the boycott. But as it is the majority of them through their student leaders have expressed their desire so we are just facilitating.
KH: And you are at the three mile campus and their are no students in classes?
GTM: Yes there are no students in class all the students are sitting around outside.
KH: And you have
GTM: Telling stories to each other listening to the forum
KH: Yes and you have sent several delegations of students back to their provinces to do awareness as well haven't you?
GTM: Yes many of them they came back the majority of them they returned that is the reason why we had all of them in and we had a meeting.
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