1 Nov 2011

Former PNG soldiers rampage over allowances

2:21 pm on 1 November 2011

A group of former Papua New Guinea servicemen has gone on a rampage, damaging cars and state property.

The newspaper, The National, reports that the former soldiers were protesting against what they claim was the delay in the payment of their entitlements.

They used metal bars and destroyed glass panels at Morauta Haus in Waigani, which houses the office of the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.

Motor vehicles owned by the state and privately by officers working at Morauta Haus were also damaged by the angry mob.

Their action was prompted by Mr O'Neill's comment last week that some claims were delayed pending verification.

The paper says it's believed to be the first time members of the police force, including the specially trained mobile squad, had come unarmed to quell a disturbance in a public area.