PAPUA NEW GUINEA – The National Court in Papua New Guinea has slapped an interim injunction on the University of PNG, stopping it from evicting protesting students from its two Port Moresby campuses.

The order was issued by Justice Collin Makail and remains in place until another hearing of the court on June 22.

Last week, Justice Mikail issued a stay order that prevented the University from executing a 48 hour eviction notice and suspending the first semester.

One of the student leaders, Gerald Tulu Manu-Peni, said the injunction only applies to the eviction order while the semester remains suspended.

The legal challenge to the students’ eviction was mounted by the UPNG Student Representative Council.

About 2400 students live in dormitories on the campuses, and Manu-Peni said the judge issued the injunction order on humanitarian grounds.

As the majority of students come from provinces outside of the Capital District, Manu- Peni said the Judge felt “ample time should be given to the students” to organise their possible relocation.

“The students are still residing on campus even though the classes have been suspended,” Manu-Peni said.

UPNG administration was not able to comment on the injunction until after a meeting of its Council yesterday afternoon.

University administrators said previously that the Council was looking for a way to reincorporate five weeks lost from the first semester into the second, by extending the academic year.

Meanwhile, former PNG Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, has censured the police for arresting protesting students at the behest of politicians.

Sir Michael, who is the governor of East Sepik province, said, “it is despicable that leaders are abusing their office by instructing the police to carry out their dirty deeds.”

Eighteen people were reported to have been arrested on Monday in the the capital of East Sepik, Wewak, for unlawful assembly.

PNG students have been staging forums around the country as part of their awareness campaign to explain why they’re calling for the Prime Minister to step down.

Sir Michael said he wanted the public to know that Sepik students from Unitech and the University of PNG informed him of their intention to stage the forum.

Papua New Guinea students were expected to rally again in Port Moresby yesterday in anticipation of a parliamentary vote of no confidence in the government of Peter O’Neill.

A spokesperson from the office of the leader of the opposition, Don Polye, said the application for the vote would be filed with the Speaker of the House this week, but he could not say when.

Earlier, O’Neill told leaders from Pacific, African and Carribean nations who have gathered in Port Moresby for a summit, that PNG will hold a general election in 10 months.

The newspaper the Post Courier reported that in his address to the leaders, Neill said PNG has, “a very robust parliamentary democracy with a single chamber elected by the people every five years – the next elections will be held in 10 months”.

The police have a heavy presence in Port Moresby because of the leaders summit which includes the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe.

- PNC sources