In the midst of all the chaos that ensued from the violent confrontation with police, students spoke of kind strangers who lifted their spirits when they thought all was lost.
It all started when they decided to attend today’s parliament sitting. Police would not let the 25-seater buses (more than five of them) through so they chose to walk instead. The officers were determined to keep the students on campus while the latter refused to be swayed from their democratic right to express themselves.
The battle of wills ended as soon as tear gas canisters were launched into the midst of the student body. Bullets, fists and boots started flying immediately in the direction of the students, regardless of gender.
Some sought refuge at the Uniforce security (sigi) base while others fled towards the hills of Morata, Fort Banner or Ensisi.
Numerous students’ reports to Loop PNG told of how strangers stood up to protect them.
“Some of the boys ran to Ensisi and were hidden by residents there,” a final year student told Loop. Other members of the public gathered at the main Waigani campus gates and scolded the officers, questioning their use of firearms, while parents and residents at Morata wailed in anguish when they saw students being assaulted.
“These are not our children but as parents, we feel their pain,” a mother told Loop PNG. Some of the university guards became human shields, protecting female students from getting bashed up, while others tried to revive unconscious students and help them get medical treatment.
Hours later, when the sun was over the horizon, large numbers of students could be seen walking out of campus with their bags and boxes. Those who had nowhere to go thought they were sitting ducks until a kind-hearted couple offered their roof to them.
“My husband has been a lecturer here for decades,” the bubbly mother told Loop. “We were here during the past protests so we have a fair idea of what’s going on.
“I told my children that if we cannot fit them all in the rooms, we’ll sit up all night in the living room and tell stories.” At least five female students accepted the couple’s invitation and are now safely tucked away somewhere.
The Dalai Lama, a Buddhism monk, said: “Compassionate thought is the most precious thing there is. It is something that only we human beings can develop.
“And if we have a good heart, a warm heart, warm feelings, we will be happy and satisfied ourselves, and our friends will experience a friendly and peaceful atmosphere as well. This can be experienced community to community, country to country, continent to continent.”
