Claire Damutalau

The Solomon Islands High Commission education attaché in PNG, Claire Damutalau, confirmed with Loop PNG that 48 students at the UPNG main campus under their government scholarship have been sent home.

Yesterday, 30 Solomon Islands students studying at the University of Technology were sent home.

But the Pacific Islanders at the University of Goroka are still residing on campus and the High Commission is closely monitoring the situation.

“We worried about their security too; if there will be disturbance if classes start,” Damutalau said.  

The incident, which happened during the weekend, has resulted in 30 Solomon Islands Government scholarship holders repatriated to Honiara yesterday, after transiting from Port Moresby. 

The Solomon Islands High Commission education attaché in PNG, Claire Damutalau, told Loop PNG the students’ morale were low when she spoke to them yesterday.  

“When I spoke to them, generally a good number of them were traumatised because it was their first time to see men running around with knives.

The Solomon Islands High Commission education attaché in PNG, Claire Damutalau, said 30 students were flown out today.

"For safety purposes we sent them home, it's the call of the National Government," Damutalau told Loop PNG this afternoon.  

"The students moved out off campus on Sunday afternoon and were accommodated at a guest house in (Lae) town until this morning.

"They were really scared and traumatised because it was the first time for them to see men running around with knives," Damutalau said.