Kenneth Rapa

The former SRC President for UPNG made his intentions known today to run for Enga Regional Seat under Oro Governor, Gary Juffa’s Peoples Movement for Change party.

His intention to run for the regional seat comes after the recent student unrest from the University of Papua New Guinea last year.

“During the unrest, we had a lot of issues that had gone done unsolved between the students and the university administration,” he said.

Rapa and 12 others who were members of the now suspended, Student Representative Council filed an urgent application seeking leave for a judicial review into their permanent exclusion from studies on Aug 9.

The 2016 Student Representative Council has been permanently suspended after the UPNG Council removed their powers prior the resumption of semester one classes on Sept 5. 

The stay against the students’ exclusion was granted after Justice Collin Makail granted leave or allowed for a judicial review to be conducted.

The University of Technology student was killed in his room during an attack on the campus last Saturday.

“Firstly, on behalf of the UPNG students, I wish to convey my sincerest condolence to the families, friends, relatives and loved ones of late Graham Romanong. His death is a great loss to our nation, to the people of Southern Highlands Province and Mendi,” Kenneth Rapa said in a statement.

“On behalf of the student body of UPNG, I condemn the killing of this young man. The manner in which he was killed is regrettable and should not be tolerated in our society.

Referring to the June 23 confrontation, Rapa said: “Please note that I and my fellow UPNG SRC members were restrained by a court order obtained by UPNG administration, restraining us from conducting any further boycott and protests.

“Any actions taken by my council members and myself to mobilise students would been seen as actions undertaken to boycott classes and we would be in contempt.

Speaking to the media outside the Waigani Court house, Laken Lepatu Aigilo said: “Let me put to the nation that this does not mean that the fight is over. We will look into other means if it means to draft separate proceedings, we will do so. We will look into how we can seek justice.”

He made these statements after the National Court refused orders from a human rights case that was moved this morning.

Justice Derek Hartshorn, in his decision this afternoon, refused the orders sought in the students’ human rights application, saying he was not satisfied there were serious questions to be tried.

He said police cannot be prevented from performing their constitutional function or be stopped by the Court from conducting investigations.

Justice Hartshorn found the balance of convenience did not favour the students, adding they can still sue damages from police.

Rapa was referring to the CoI that the Government plans to carry out to find out the reason behind the students’ prolonged unrest as well as their financiers.

“On behalf of the UPNG students, I embrace the decision of the Government to form a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the issue,” he said in a statement. However, they will only accept the decision on the following terms:

Kenneth Rapa said this today during what was supposed to be the handover of their petition to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

The petition asks O’Neill to step aside and be investigated. Unfortunately, the PM sent Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Malakai Tabar to get the document, to which the students refused to give to him.

“The office of the prime minister or police commissioner, or any office on that matter, is eternal,” Rapa said in front of more than 5000 students at the UPNG Forum Square.