20 Aug 2020

Remandee frustrations behind another deadly jailbreak in PNG

From , 6:03 am on 20 August 2020


A manhunt is underway after dozens of inmates broke out of Papua New Guinea's second biggest prison.

Local media has reported that eleven prisoners were shot dead as they attempted to escape Lae's Buimo jail in Friday's mass breakout on Friday.

If that seems disturbing, bare in mind that since 2015, there have been six reported breakouts at the prison.

Jailbreaks are not uncommon in PNG, and often lives are lost in the process. To look at the factors at play behind the problem, I'm joined by RNZ Pacific's Koroi Hawkins.


A manhunt is underway after dozens of inmates broke out of Papua New Guinea's second biggest prison.

Local media has reported that eleven prisoners were shot dead as they attempted to escape Lae's Buimo jail in Friday's mass breakout on Friday.

If that seems disturbing, bare in mind that since 2015, there have been six reported breakouts at the prison.

Jailbreaks are not uncommon in PNG, and often lives are lost in the process.

Reception area at Buimo Jail in Lae, PNG.

. Photo: Human Rights Watch