5 Sep 2008

Students strike in Papua New Guinea over inflation and corruption

1:32 pm on 5 September 2008

More than 2,000 Papua New Guinean university students have stormed out of classes, reportedly in protest at corruption and the government's inability to keep inflation low.

Students at the University of Technology in Lae are reported to have acted over the high and rising costs of goods and services.

The Student Representative Council president Jackson Kiakari, who also leads the National Union of Students, says they want to encourage similar at other PNG campuses.

He says the kina's value has plummetted and people can get little with the money they earn.

The protests came as the PNG Treasurer Patrick Pruaitch announced, in Port Moresby, that inflation had increased to 10 point 7 per cent, significantly above government forecasts.