A group of students from Papua New Guinea's Western Highlands province have been unable to return home from Port Moresby a month after university unrest.
Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations and Member for Tambul-Nebilyer Benjamin Poponawa (left) with Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. Photo: PNG PM Media Office
Students from Tambul-Nebilyer attending the University of Papua New Guinea said they are still waiting for their local MP, Benjamin Poponawa, to assist them with an airline ticket to travel back to Western Highlands.
The UPNG this month cancelled the academic year after unrest which boiled over in June when police opened fire on students trying to march on Parliament in support of a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.
The students stranded in the capital are affiliated with the UPNG Students Representative Council which led a six week-long boycott of classes from early May.
While some regional MPs have assisted students from their electorates to return home, Tambul-Nebilyer students said Mr Poponawa had not come forward.
The students were living in Port Moresby outside the campus with friends and relatives and said they needed to be repatriated as soon as possible.
A spokesperson from the MP's office indicated he was expected to pay out for the airline tickets soon.
