UPNG

Universities must save 2016 academic year: Prof Kavanamur

The Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) secretary Professor David Kavanamur said: “Our main agenda is to immediately salvage the academic year. Closing down the 2016 academic year should not be an option for the country.

“Currently, the rolling boycott has spanned six weeks of useful learning hours and I would like to call for restraint by all concerned parties.

“This is not the time to apportion blame, but it is time for understanding and reconciliation.

Momase MPs must broker dialogue for way forward

That is the call from East Sepik Tertiary Student Union president Newton Savi for Morobe, Madang, and East and West Sepik MPs.   

“The founding father (Sir Michael Somare) has taken the lead to the hospital and we must find a way forward for Papua New Guinea. 

“We call on all our MPs in the Momase block to take the lead to visit the students and find a solution through dialogue.

Sir Michael who is the East Sepik Governor visited the four gunshot injured students last week at the Port Moresby General Hospital. 

Unitech and UPNG to resume classes

‪‎”UNITECH students who are still off campus, classes resume on Tuesday (tomorrow). SRC and provincial representatives agreed and signed, and the administration accepted the extension of the boycott until 14 June,” Schram posted on his Facebook page.

“Coming Wednesday the Academic Board will make final rearrangement of the academic calendar, and see how sufficient time for exam preparation can be arranged.

Commander Toropo: Defence Force not providing security on students protest

Toropo said it is the job of the Royal PNG Constabulary and his men are not involved. 

He also confirmed that the helicopter circling the University, Rainbow and Gerehu areas yesterday was not commanded by the PNGDF.

Caption: File picture.

PM O’Neill condemns agitators behind UPNG confrontation

The Prime Minister has further announced that an inquiry will be undertaken to determine the underlying reasons for continued student unrest promoted by individuals outside the student body.

The inquiry will also seek to uncover the source of external funding that has underwritten student protest in recent weeks.

“This protest and the factors that led to the incident today have been driven by people who are not students,” the Prime Minister said.

“This is now a law and order issues. We must obtain the facts and ensure this does not happen again in the future.

Police say situation at University is calm

Loop PNG was informed by a policeman that the situation is now under control.

He said policemen are now concentrating the manpower at Morata to stop fighting which as spilled over from the students protest.

Meanwhile, Police confirmed that the burning of the truck outside UPNG campus is the work of opportunists.

Sir Michael condemns actions of police at UPNG

Sir Michael in a statement said: "It is inexcusable that unarmed students are fired upon by police as they prepare to peacefully march on to Parliament.

"We need to establish who gave the orders for policemen to inflict harm on unarmed students. What warranted police to surround the campus in the first instance?

“Is the University safeguarding the interest of our young people?

"I call on police to stand down in the interest of the public, you are not there to protect the interest of individual politicians.”

PM to set up Commission of Inquiry into students’ issue

He said points have been made in a democratic way and points have been answered but yet some people  do not  want to accept the answers.

O’Neill was responding to Northern Governor Garry Juffa on naming the leaders who the government claimed to be backing the students with their protest.

He said the matter has now a police matter so the police will deal with it and carry out their investigations.

“We will set up a Commission of Inquiry to establish what is going on at the University of Papua New Guinea,” he said.

More than 250 women mourn for UPNG students

The women were in an adult literacy class in a church at the back of the University of Papua New Guinea, opposite Fort Banner, when they heard shots being fired.

“We looked out and saw what looked like a live movie, unfolding in front of our eyes,” a spokeswoman told Loop PNG. “Students were running into bushes, trying to hide from police. It was like rebels trying to hide from Government officers. We are not a Communist country.”

UPNG students and staff feel the squeeze

Malakai Tabar's comment comes after the UPNG yesterday suspended the first semester and gave about 5,000 students occupying its campuses 48 hours to leave.

For almost four weeks they've boycotted their classes while demanding that Prime Minister Peter O'Neill stand aside and face police questioning over an alleged fraud case.

UPNG students gathered in their thousands to demand that the prime minister Peter O'Neill stand aside to face questioning over a fraud case. Photo: upng4png