Papua New Guinea’s PM Declares State of Emergency As 16 Die In Unrest; Missionaries Concerned
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
PORT MORESBY (Worthy News) – Papua New Guinea’s prime minister has declared a state of emergency across the Pacific island nation as at least 16 people were killed in unrest sparked by anger over a sudden pay cut to police and public sector workers.
The troubles began when police walked off of their job to protest the drop in pay that government officials said was caused by a computer glitch, underscoring the dangers of nations relying primarily on technology.
Although the government quickly pledged to correct the mistake on the next payday, strikes, and other protests descended into chaos. There was massive looting and clashes involving thousands of people in major cities, including Port Moresby, the capital.
Shops and cars were torched, and supermarkets looted, with many carrying what appeared to be stolen merchandise as black smoke billowed over Port Moresby, Worthy News monitored.
Most riots-related deaths were reported in Port Moresby, where nine people died, while seven were killed in Lae, in the north of the gold and copper-mining country, police said.
The unrest led to international tensions, including with China, as Beijing demanded a crackdown on perpetrators who it said damaged Chinese-owned businesses.
Papua New Guinea accommodates about 20,000 Chinese citizens as the first Pacific Island nation to adopt China’s Belt and Road project, its global infrastructure development strategy.
CHINA URGING SECURITY
China’s embassy in the country urged authorities to protect Chinese citizens, adding that several had been injured.
Prime Minister James Marape urged calm. He said security reports suggested that while the situation had “subsided in the past 12 hours… it is still tense out there”, an opinion shared by the U.S. embassy.
However, Tensions in Port Moresby remained high late Thursday, as residents were asked to stay home, while many businesses remained closed and all public transport was halted.
The local U.S. embassy warned that “the relative calm can change at a moment’s notice.”
Amid the ongoing clashes, at least six members of parliament resigned, and there were calls for the prime minister’s resignation.
“James Marape must resign. The crisis is a combination and a groundswell of enmity from our people in public service that emanates from the total economic mismanagement,” said Nomane, from Marape’s Papua and Niugini Union Party (Pangu), who was Vice Minister of National Planning, in a video statement.
“The prime minister, the treasurer, the police minister are 100 percent culpable. Things will only get worse unless we stop this rot.” The social unrest highlighted broader concerns about the economic situation in the island nation of nearly 10 million people.
‘CHRISTIAN’ NATION?
Although a resource-rich country, almost 40 percent of Papua New Guinea’s population lives in poverty, and violence against women and children is rampant, according to rights groups and U.S. officials.
“Violent crime, including sexual assault, carjackings, home invasions, and armed robberies, is common,” the U.S. State Department warned in a recent assessment.
“There have been reports of criminals attacking resorts popular with foreign tourists to steal goods and money. Tensions between communal or tribal groups may lead to civil unrest involving violence and to occur without warning,” it said.
While officially a mainly ‘Christian’ nation, the tense atmosphere comes at a time of spiritual concerns, missionaries suggested.
“In a culture steeped in superstition, truths of Christianity often become entangled with traditional tribal beliefs,” noted the World Gospel Mission group.
“Papua New Guineans believe in many spirits, which makes them open to hearing about God. However, once a person embraces Christ, they often struggle to stop worshiping and fearing the other spirits,” the group added.
Christian missionaries and police were among those facing challenges to help restore peace to a troubled nation.
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