Shooting of Student Protesters in Papua New Guinea (2016)
The Shooting of Student Protesters in Papua New Guinea in 2016 occurred during a period of significant unrest tied to allegations of government corruption under Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. Following a boycott initiated by students at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) in May 2016, protests escalated, culminating in a violent incident on June 8 when police reportedly fired on demonstrators. Initial reports suggested multiple casualties, including fatalities, although government sources denied any deaths, stating that a small group of agitators provoked the violence. Despite the turmoil, O'Neill survived a no-confidence vote in July, maintaining his position as prime minister.
The protests reflected broader dissatisfaction with O'Neill's administration, particularly around economic management and corruption issues, with participation extending beyond students to include professionals such as pilots and doctors. Following the shooting, civil unrest spread to other cities, with reports of looting and damage to government property. The UPNG eventually reopened in September 2016, but the events highlighted deep-seated tensions within Papua New Guinea's political landscape, revealing significant public discontent and calls for accountability.
Shooting of Student Protesters in Papua New Guinea (2016)
Date: June 8, 2016
Place: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Summary
A protest at the University of Papua New Guinea in the capital city of Port Moresby resulted in violence as police used tear gas and reportedly opened fire on protestors. While news articles initially reported as many as four deaths in the incident, government spokespeople denied that there had been any fatalities.
Key Events
- June 2014—Prime Minister Peter O’Neill shuts down corruption watchdog Task Force Sweep and fires Simon Kauba, deputy police commissioner, after the task force called for O’Neill’s arrest for corruption.
- May 2016—Students at the University of Papua New Guinea begin a boycott of the university and protest against O’Neill’s government.
- June 8, 2016—A protest on the University of Papua New Guinea’s Port Moresby campus turns violent as police reportedly open fire on protestors.
- July 4, 2016—University of Papua New Guinea cancels the 2016 academic year.
- July 21, 2016—O’Neill survives a no-confidence vote in the PNG parliament.
Status
As of late 2016, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill remained in office, having survived a no-confidence vote on July 21. Student protests continued at several Papua New Guinea universities through August, though O’Neill’s administration issued a press release on August 9 claiming that his administration was working to reopen the University of Papua New Guinea (UNPG) to allow students to return to classes. The O’Neill administration has stated that a small number of agitators were responsible for turning the student protests violent. The University of Papua New Guinea’s Port Moresby campus reopened in September 2016.
In-Depth Overview
Peter O’Neill is Papua New Guinea’s ninth prime minister, elected in August 2012. On June 16, 2014, police issued a warrant for O’Neill’s arrest based on allegations that O’Neill was involved in siphoning $31 million in state funds to the law firm of Paul Paraka. Sam Koim, head of Task Force Sweep, an anticorruption organization made up of justice department personnel, recommended the warrant and reported that an Australian private investigation team had verified the authenticity of a letter allegedly written by O’Neill authorizing the transfer of funds to Paraka lawyers. In response, O’Neill fired Deputy Commissioner Simon Kauba of the Papua New Guinea police and disbanded Task Force Sweep.
In May 2016, students at several Papua New Guinea universities and colleges organized mass boycotts calling for O’Neill’s resignation and the reinstatement of both Police Commissioner Kauba and Task Force Sweep. By early June, the protests had effectively shut down classes at UNPG and several other national colleges. The UPNG Student Representative Council led protests in the capital city of Port Moresby, and similar, smaller protests erupted around the nation. On May 19 more than one thousand students allied with civil rights groups issued a petition calling for O’Neill to face up to corruption allegations.
On June 8, a reported two thousand protesters met on the campus of UNPG and boarded buses to head to the Parliament building. Noel Anjo, a student participant, reported that police stopped the buses and ordered the protestors to disembark. Police reports claimed that protestors had become violent and had begun throwing rocks, forcing the police to use tear gas to disperse the crowd. Participants denied these accusations in statements to the press. Videos posted on social media showed people running, while gunshots could be heard in the background, and several wounded individuals being carried away from the scene. That same day, O’Neill’s offices issued a statement claiming that a group of agitators, allegedly from outside the university, were responsible for turning the protest violent.
Initial news reports indicated that around ten people had been shot or otherwise injured, while some newspapers reported that there had been as many as four deaths. Grant Muddle, chief executive of the Port Moresby General Hospital, stated that eight individuals had been brought to the hospital with gunshot wounds but that there had been no fatalities. Muddle reported that a further sixteen individuals were treated for other injuries.
In Lae, Papua New Guinea’s second largest city, there were reports of looting and civil unrest after the shooting, with protestors reportedly setting fire to government vehicles and buildings. By the end of July, pilots and doctors had joined student in protest, citing O’Neill’s failure to manage the economy and refusal to answer charges of corruption. In July, with questions over O’Neill’s leadership mounting, Parliament held a no-confidence vote to determine if O’Neill should be removed from office. O’Neill survived the vote, with eighty-five of the 111 members voting for him to remain in office until the next election cycle.
Key Figures
Gari Baki: Papua New Guinea police commissioner, who reported on the incident to the press.
Dominic Kakas: Police representative who provided initial reports on the incident.
Peter O’Neill: Prime minister of Papua New Guinea.
Bibliography
Connors, A., & Barker, A. (2016, June 8). Papua New Guinea shooting: Why were students protesting against Peter O’Neill’s government? ABC News. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-08/papua-new-guinea-violence-student-anger-at-oneill/7492874
Davidson, H. (2016, July 7). University of Papua New Guinea cancels academic year after student unrest. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/07/university-of-papua-new-guinea-cancels-academic-year-after-student-unrest
Doherty, B. (2016, June 8). Four students reported dead after police fire on protest in Papua New Guinea. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/08/four-students-reported-dead-after-police-fire-on-protest-in-papua-new-guinea
Doherty, B., & Davidson, H. (2016, June 8). PNG police shooting: Four reported dead after officers fire on student rally—latest. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/08/four-students-reported-dead-after-police-fire-on-protest-in-papua-new-guinea
Griffiths, J. (2016, June 8). Police fire on student protestors in Papua New Guinea. CNN. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/07/asia/png-protest-students-shot/
Innis, M. (2016, June 8). Papua New Guinea protestors wounded by police gunfire, lawmaker says. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/09/world/australia/papua-new-guinea-protest.html
Peter O’Neill sacks top PNG policeman and shuts down corruption watchdog. (2014, June 18). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/18/peter-oneill-sacks-top-png-policeman-and-shuts-down-corruption-watchdog
Tlozek, E. (2016, June 10). PNG police shoot students during anti-government protest. ABC News. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-08/shooting-on-papua-new-guinea-university-campus/7489416