2016 UPNG Boycott update

UPNG students seek judicial review of termination

The notice of motion filed on Sept 19 was allowed to be heard ex-parte (without the respondents) today after the court was satisfied that the motion filed was served to UPNG and the state and was urgent.

Lawyer representing the terminated students served the application to the office of the Secretary of Justice and Attorney General on Monday when it was filed.

The motion moved today seeks leave of the court to conduct a judicial review against the actions of the University Council when it permanently excluded the students from studies on Aug 29.

Reconciliation service underway at UPNG main campus

Secretary for the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor David Kavanamur, told students that the future of this nation lies on their shoulders and it was important to move forward with trust.

He acknowledged the emptiness created at the campus by the unrest but said today was the start of a new journey. While creating trust between parties is difficult, taking the first steps towards this is important.

UPNG reconciliation one-sided, say student leaders

One of the leaders, Cameron Wari, told Loop PNG this morning that the purpose of a reconciliation is to forgive and forget.

“The student leaders are still terminated, which means the students are terminated.”

Another vocal leader of the UPNG Momase students, Yehingu Humungs, told his colleagues that the event today is not in the true spirit of forgiveness/reconciliation “as all our SRC leaders are implicated and sidelined on your behalf”.

He said today’s reconciliation ceremony will compromise the students’ values as individuals and agents of change.

UPNG to know fate today

Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Minister Malakai Tabar will address the students at the Forum Square today regarding the fate of the academic year.

The students have not been attending classes for up to eight weeks now after they first boycotted classes on May 2.

Classes were then suspended for an indefinite period by the university council on May 20.

The suspension lasted for 10 days and students were asked to return to classes to continue semester one on June 13, which was a public holiday.

UPNG students appear in court

Following their arrest on June 23, Brendan Kisa, Elizah Nere, Divimal Marus and Frank Luwai all returned to court where the charges against them were read out. They were arraigned today after their lawyer, Laken Lepatu Aigilo, succeeded in obtaining bail at K500 from the District Court on June 29.

Central leader calls on students to stop disruption of classes

This follows the ongoing disruption of classes at Papua New Guinea’s major universities; the University of PNG (UPNG) and the PNG University of Technology (Unitech).

Students have not been attending classes for two months now following the student protest, continuous boycott and recent arson at UPNG and Unitech. 

Baira said they hope that the situation will get better before students can be sent back to the Unitech Campus in Lae after Central students were repatriated home this week.

​UPNG students allowed bail

Their lawyer, Laken Lepatu Aigilo, went before the Waigani District Court this morning with a bail application which was granted at K500 each.

Brendan Kisa, Elizah Nere, Divimal Marus and Frank Luwai were arrested last Thursday in Port Moresby following a confrontation with the university’s security force.

They were charged on Monday for the unlawful use of a motor vehicle after they were kept three days at the Waigani Police Station.

Solomon Islands to repatriate students studying in PNG

Students in PNG have been boycotting classes for weeks in protest of Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's refusal to stand down to face corruption charges.

These protest have turned violent in the past two weeks, with clashes at campuses in Goroka, Lae and an incident where police opened fire on students from the University of PNG in Port Moresby.

We need time to recover, students tell UPNG administration

This was what a UPNG student, painted in red earth, told those gathered at the Forum Square at the main Waigani campus.

“These are not only Engan students. Boys from Momase and other regions are also in the group,” he said, referring to the students who had rubbed red earth from their faces down to their waistline.

The group of more than 40 students has increased to more than a hundred. They are displaying their grief at what had transpired last Wednesday.

More than 40 students paint themselves in red earth to signify mourning

“This is to show that we are still in a haus krai. We are not in the mood to attend classes,” student leader Christopher Kipalan announced to those on campus.

 “Pasin Melanesia na mipla peintim pes na kam,” he said. “This is a sign of respect to our fellow students who are still on the sick bed,” another student said.

 “We are not here to destroy anything. We want the administration to understand our plight and not force us to go to class.”