protest

Final contents of the Defence Cooperation Agreement are yet to be revealed, with Prime Minister James Marape saying there will be an increased and "direct" presence of the US in PNG in the next 15 years.

This has been taken as a direct attack on PNG's sovereignty. 

Like their counterparts at the University of Papua New Guinea, Unitech's Student Representative Senate President, Kenzie Walipi, said they are taking the matter seriously as responsible citizens, hence classes have been cancelled for today.

People in the Wabag electorate led a protest in Wabag town demanding the deferral of polling for the Wabag District to today.

The Royal PNG Constabulary in a statement said more details will be revealed soon as to the reasons for their demand. Security personnel and electoral officials are currently talking to the protesters.

More than 1500 members of the Joint Security Task Force are now in the Enga Province to provide security for the polling, which began today for the six open seats and one regional seat.

Tamana Zaryabi Paryani was detained on 19 January at her apartment in Kabul's Parwan 2 area after taking part in a women's rights protest.

Her state of health remains unknown, said two sources.

On Sunday, the United Nations said a further three women had also been released.

Parwana Ibrahimkhel went missing alongside Ms Paryani, while Zahra Mohammadi and Mursal Ayar disappeared weeks later, according to the AFP news agency.

RNZ Pacific correspondent in Honiara, Elizabeth Osifelo, said exhausted police were overwhelmed as more people swarmed into town in defiance of a 36-hour lockdown.

Shops in Chinatown which had survived the earlier unrest were ransacked and burned. On the eastern side of town the Ranadi branch of Bank South Pacific was torched as was locally owned and operated hardware store, Island Enterprise.

Osifelo said police were doing everything they could to try and get control of the situation but they were outnumbered.

Prime minister Manasseh Sogavare said those behind yesterday's scenes of destruction in Honiara would be held accountable.

He gave a national address following the protests, which led to crowds breaching parliament's precinct and burnt a building next to the main chamber.

It was followed by looting and burning of properties in town, including a school and a police station.

Sogavare announced a full lockdown until Friday, and assured the public of their safety.

This was the update received following this morning’s protest by residents of the Okapa block over the alleged beating and death of a teenager by members of the police attached to the Six-Mile command.

On the other hand, four community leaders of the Okapa Block at Saraga Settlement are currently in police custody at the Six-Mile police station holding cell, as a result.

Police pulled in on protesters along the Saraga road, stopping them from bringing the body of late Aina Jerry to the Six-Mile police station.

Before being met by police, Peter Gary, an anti-corruption activist, and relative of late Jerry said police must take responsibility for this death.

“Police how ol i laik hendolim na putim long wanem kain mog, lo tri mail o ol i laik putim go long funeral home, em responsibility blong state,” Gary stated.

Koiari landowners of Central Province have shut down and locked the Rouna 2 hydrostation early this morning in frustration over the lack of urgency in addressing their grievances.

They also felled trees and rolled huge boulders onto the middle of the Sogeri road. This was around 1am today.

Around 10am, NCD metropolitan superintendent, Perou N’Dranou, his officers and PNG Power staff convoyed up the winding road, cutting away the felled trees as they went.

Islands Business Magazine reported the majority of the country's air traffic controllers at both of Fiji's international airports have not been reporting to work since Monday this week.

A statement sent to the magazine from the protesting workers claimed around 80 percent of traffic control officers have taken various forms of leave in protest over pay and working conditions.

It said only five officers have remained at their posts and are working around the clock at the Nadi and Nausori airport towers. It said normally there are 17 officers on duty.

Since this morning, academics, support staff and students gathered at the Drill Hall to await a response from the Prime Minister’s office regarding their grievances.

The National Academic Staff Association (NASA) requested the Prime Minister to intervene and immediately: