Papua New Guinea (PNG) police and military reportedly stormed the country’s parliament on Tuesday in protest to press their demand for unpaid wages for their work during last weekend’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
Opposition parliamentarian Allan Bird told Reuters that it was the armed forces, police and correctional workers that entered the parliament and smashed everything up.
“They were yelling: ‘Corrupt government, bloody government’ and so on.
“They were taking their frustration out on the furniture, they dispersed eventually, but we are hearing more are mobilising,” Bird said.
The unrest came days after PNG hosted Asia-Pacific leaders for a regional summit.
The APEC summit, which ended recently, propelled PNG onto the world stage but many residents were angered when the South Pacific country bought a fleet of luxury cars that now stands unused in a warehouse.
Most Papua New Guineans eke out a subsistence living and luxury cars are very rare on roads that often require four-wheel drive vehicles.
“It’s tense and a lot of people are indoors,” Santee Margis, a unionist who represents electricity workers, by telephone from his home just outside the city centre, said.
He said that security forces, police and correctional staff were expecting their allowances would be paid into their accounts.
“When that didn’t happen, they stormed parliament.
“Many people are mad about APEC, and even though the government had made assurances, that it’s not been of benefit to the little people,’’ Margis added.
He was at the courthouse downtown when he saw offices in lock-down and shops shutting, as well as people throwing rocks to smash shop windows and looting.
An employee of Bank South Pacific said that branches closed early and staff were sent home.
Pictures on social media showed broken glass and smashed artwork at parliament house.
The Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported that APEC Chief Executive Chris Hawkins had issued a statement saying police and other security personnel typically received their payment a week after a major event.
“The meeting ended two days ago and the security operation is now winding down,” the statement said.
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“The payment of individual allowances has already commenced and individual security force members should check with their banks as payments are made,” he said.
Hawkins was not immediately available for comment. (Reuters/NAN)
