2016 UPNG Boycott

Speaking to the media outside the Waigani Court house, Laken Lepatu Aigilo said: “Let me put to the nation that this does not mean that the fight is over. We will look into other means if it means to draft separate proceedings, we will do so. We will look into how we can seek justice.”

He made these statements after the National Court refused orders from a human rights case that was moved this morning.

Muddle, in a statement, said these male students were wounded by gunshots following a clash between students and police on Wednesday at UPNG’s main Waigani campus.

The three students are recovering at the surgical (intensive care unit) 2C ward under close supervision of doctors and nurses; while the primary school student admitted in the ward was scheduled to undergo surgery on his right foot yesterday.

Muddle emphasised that there are no deaths of students after the alleged police shooting at the campus.

Rapa was referring to the CoI that the Government plans to carry out to find out the reason behind the students’ prolonged unrest as well as their financiers.

“On behalf of the UPNG students, I embrace the decision of the Government to form a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the issue,” he said in a statement. However, they will only accept the decision on the following terms:

Almost 90 percent of the student body had left while only a few remained. Less than 15 female students had spent the night on campus. Uniforce guards locked the gate to the senior female’s hall of residence at 8pm, when the gate normally shuts at 11pm.

The police had exited the main campus by 6.30pm.

Apart from the occasional sound of the guards’ vehicles patrolling the campus until daybreak, all was deathly quiet.

“I didn’t sleep well last night. I was too scared,” a female student told Loop PNG. “One small sound would jolt me awake.”

NCD metropolitan superintendent Ben Turi told Loop PNG: “We will stay until we get our orders to go out. “We will be here until everything is calm. If they’re doing mass withdrawal, we will stay until everybody is out.”

Student leader Christopher Kipalan said this afternoon during their forum that apart from the delegates, they are also expecting outsiders, concerned citizens, to attend the event.

“Because this country not only belongs to the 5000 students of UPNG but also the 8 million people of Papua New Guinea.

“The entire field is reserved for the general public while students will sit at the Forum Square, dressed in black.”

All entrances to the main Waigani campus will be closed and guarded by police, Uniforce and students, except for the main gate.

The majority of them are at the Forum Square in their black outfits.

More than 50 police vehicles entered the University of Papua New Guinea’s main Waigani campus at around 4.45am today.

Police Commissioner Gari Baki told Loop PNG that police have been on ground since 3am.He wouldn’t disclose the exact number of law enforcers deployed.

The students removed the blockade at the main entrance of the Waigani campus because they decided that it was illegal.

“Let them come in and attend classes,” the student leader said.

Another student asked: “If they’re all here then who’s on the streets?”

Police Commissioner Gari Baki told Loop PNG that police have been on ground since 3am.He wouldn’t disclose the exact number of law enforcers deployed.

They are there to "restore normalcy", Baki stated.

The issue of them being armed is as per their "duty requirements".

The operation contains all four mobile squads in POM, general duties and HQ staff, as well as Bomana staff  who will be on duty.

Students, on the other hand, are intimidated by the presence of the armed personnel.

All the students are now gathered at the Forum Square.

In a circular released yesterday (Sunday), registrar Jennifer Popat said: “After two weeks of classes, there appears to be no solution in sight. The university is extremely concerned about this uncertain situation.”

Popat said the disruptions have resulted in millions of kina losses to the university and its stakeholders, including loss of learning time to students.

“Such losses cannot be sustained. Normal classes will resume on Monday, May 16, at 8am.