Prime Minister James Marape declared a state of emergency after rioting and looting in Papua New Guinea

18-01-2024

Yasemin Beyza Uçar

South and East Asia Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

Prime Minister James Marape declared a state of emergency in Papua New Guinea’s capital amid deadly riots that caused 15 deaths. The Prime Minister reassured the locals by announcing that more than 1,000 troops are on standby if the situation escalates. 

The rioting and looting was caused during a police and military strike. Many shops and cars were destroyed and set on fire. A pay deduction for the police, the military, and correctional services triggered this intense situation. The workers did not receive any notice or further explanation regarding the deduction, and therefore, more than 200 police officers and military personnel abandoned their duties for a day to protest. 

According to the workers, over a period of 14 days, their pay deductions varied between 26 USD and 80 USD. For some of the workers, this was a 50 percent reduction in their wages.  

The police union requested an explanation from the government on the same day of the protest. In the early stages of the frustrated worker’s situation, it was said that the deductions were based on the evident increase in the cost of goods and services in the last months.

Tension arises over the expanding costs and the increasing unemployment. The absence of the police encouraged some people outside of Port Moresby to steal from the destroyed shops.

Accordingly, the Prime Minister responded to the worker's request and explained the deduction by stating that it was solely a mistake caused by a computer flaw. He then added that this mistake would be marked and added to the following month’s salary. 

The Prime Minister declared A state of emergency on January 11, 2024, which will last for two weeks. This means the government will take extraordinary measures over these 14 days to deal with the conflict. Additionally, David Manning, the Pacific Island nation’s Chief of Police, and other well-known officials working in the finance and treasury departments have been suspended.

Sources and further readings:

Frances Mao and Kelly Ng, ‘Papua New Guinea: At least 15 dead after major rioting and looting’. BBC. (11 January 2024). https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67942289 accessed 18 January 2024 accessed 18 January 2024.

Chad de Guzman and Armani Syed, ‘State of Emergency Declared in Papua New Guinea After Rioting and Looting Kills 16’. Time. (12 January 2024). https://time.com/6554231/papua-new-guinea-riots-police-pay-protests/ accessed 18 January 2024.

Finau Fonua, ‘Looting breaks out in PNG capital during police and military strike’. RNZ.  (16 January 2024). https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/506425/looting-breaks-out-in-png-capital-during-police-and-military-strike accessed 18 January 2024.

Reuters, ‘Papua New Guinea capital rocked by violent riots as police strike over pay’. The Guardian. (10 January 2024). https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/10/papua-new-guinea-capital-rocked-by-violent-riots-as-police-strike-over-pay accessed 19 January 2024.

Rebecca Kuku, ‘Papua New Guinea puts capital under state of emergency after deadly riots’. The Guardian. (12 January 2024). https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/12/papua-new-guinea-under-14-day-state-of-emergency-after-deadly-riots accessed 19 January 2024.

Rebecca Kuku, ‘‘Everything’s gone’: Papua New Guinea picks up the pieces in wake of widespread looting’. The Guardian. (16 January 2024). https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/16/papua-new-guinea-port-moresby-riot-shooting-protest-death-toll-aftermath accessed 19 January 2024.