Opposition Leader Don Polye has called on Prime Minister Peter O’Neill once again to step down amid the crises happening at the universities.
Buildings and facilities are being burnt down following the continuous boycott by students at both the University of Papua New Guinea in Moresby and the PNG University of Technology in Lae.
At Unitech, a male student passed away as a result of wounds sustained from an apparent targeted attack by a group of men armed with bush knives in the male dormitories last night.
At around 1am, fire was set to the SRC president's residence, DODL and ATCDI buildings, and finally the mess. These buildings suffered substantial damage from the fire.
Polye said the situation on ground has become violent because the government has become ignorant and inattentive to the people’s call.
He said the situation is escalating because the Parliament is running away from people’s grievances and concerns when it was mandated to hear them.
“The Prime Minister must step aside and Parliament must reconvene, that’s the solution to this situation.
“People need to be listened to and the issues must be discussed and debated on the floor of Parliament.
“Parliament must be reconvened as it is the right place to debate this issue.
“Peter O’Neill, step aside. Whether he likes it or not, he must step aside as this country doesn’t want him,” Polye said.
Polye added that he has filed a court proceeding with the Supreme Court to order Parliament to reconvene to discuss this matter on the floor.
He said it does not need the chancellors, vice-chancellors, councils or student representative councils to solve this problem; it’s time for the members of parliament to address the situation.