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State of emergency declared in Papua New Guinea due to large-scale riots in capital

Prime Minister James Marape emphasized that people must realize that this is their country and they have a responsibility to maintain order in it

© Leo Manuai via REUTERS

SYDNEY, January 11. /TASS/. Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape has declared a state of emergency in the country amid large-scale riots in the capital of Port Moresby.

According to Australia’s ABC TV, the head of the New Guinean government said that the state of emergency "would last for 14 days, with 1,000 defense personnel on standby to react to any escalation in violence."

Marape urged citizens to remain calm and "prioritize peace and normalcy." "The absence of police presence led to riots and looting in certain parts of our city [Port Moresby]," and "the events in the capital appeared to have a ripple effect on other parts of the country," he pointed out. The prime minister emphasized that people must realize that this is their country and they have a responsibility to maintain order in it.

The prime minister also said that Papua New Guinea's cabinet had decided to mobilize members of the Australasian country’s national army to help maintain order in the cities and rebuild infrastructure after the riots. At least 180 additional police officers and military patrols are expected to be deployed on the streets of the capital as part of the decision. "Your government will look into some relief measures to help business after the losses they suffered," he said.

Police strike, unrest in Port Moresby

New Guinean law enforcement officers went on strike on Wednesday, January 10, in protest over allegedly unexplained payroll deductions. The prime minister later said the deductions, which ranged from $52 to $160 on an average monthly police salary of $450, were due to a glitch in the government's payroll system and would be made up next month. Hundreds of looters, taking advantage of the absence of police, took to the streets and began looting and burning shops. Authorities deployed police from other provinces and military personnel to Port Moresby to restore order on the streets, vowing to use live ammunition against troublemakers.

As a result of the riots and civil disobedience, which also took place in other cities across the country, six members of the country’s parliament announced their resignation from the current parliament and called on the prime minister to resign as well, accusing him of failing to maintain order in the country.

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