Police defend use of gunfire

GOROKA – The police chief in Eastern Highlands in Papua New Guinea has defended his officers firing at students during a protest in Goroka.

The Goroka University students have reportedly been demanding the resignation of the vice chancellor by staging sit-ins on the campus for nearly three weeks but on Thursday they took to the streets of the town.

Several people were hurt but the provincial police commander, Superintendent John Kale, says none of them were hit by gunfire as has been reported.

But he says officers had no choice but to use their guns to disperse a protest that he had already told the organisers was illegal.

“You only have a handful of policemen and just imagine the number of students walking on the street. You cannot stop them with your word of mouth or a baton.

“And the general public in Goroka were also taking sides. They joined the students and they started throwing stones and other missiles at the policemen.”

Superintendent Kale puts the number of protesting students at about 1000.

The Post Courier has reported two students were hospitalised after being shot in the protests.

In its report is said Goroka was a scene of chaos and confusion as students and police clashed during a protest calling for the resignation of the vice-chancellor Dr Gairo Onagi.

The vice chancellor has refused to accept a petition by the students demanding the reinstatement of seven students who were expelled for organising a protest earlier this year over a university management’s decision to extend its Bachelor’s programme from four to six years.

Not getting involved in the politics, Kale said the protest march was illegal and the students were stopped at a road block set up by police.

“That was when stones were thrown at the police and to protect themselves, police discharged rounds to disperse the crowd.”

“I can confirm two students were injured and were stabilised by doctors at Goroka Hospital, I also have several men nursing injuries but they are back out there monitoring the situation at the campus.”

Kale said that he spoke to Dr Onagi who said the campus was tense but he was scared after students destroyed several properties on campus.

“The university administration has asked us to be on campus to monitor the situation, I have told my men to keep watch at the campus. This would not have happened if the students had listened when I refused their letter to protest march.”

Kale said police will arrest students who decide to create problems. “My warning to students and the town is not to try to instigate another issue.”