More PNG student backing for protestors

8:24 pm on 12 May 2016

University students in Lae and Madang in Papua New Guinea are supporting a protest by students in Port Moresby who want the prime minister to step down.

University of PNG

University of PNG Photo: web

The Post Courier reports that students from the University of Technology in Lae held a peaceful awareness campaign, while Loop PNG says students at the Divine Word University in Madang attended a forum.

Students at the University of Papua New Guinea have boycotted classes for two weeks after prime minister Peter O'Neill refused to appear and accept a petition demanding he face corruption allegations.

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill.

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill. Photo: PNG PM's office

A student leader in Port Moresby, Hercules Jim, said five of the country's six universities have indicated they will join the protest.

"The UNRE, the University of Natural Resources and Science [Environment] they have also made their stance clear that they are also boycotting classes including UG [University of Goroka] and Divine University they have made their stance clear yesterday. Only the Pacific Adventist University which is very quiet in this national issue."

Papua New Guinea Today reports students in Port Moresby have been told to return to class on Friday to avoid having their enrolments terminated.