Papua New Guinea: Several feared dead after major rioting and unrest

Several people are feared dead after major rioting and unrest hit Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby.

Shops and cars were set on fire and supermarkets looted as hundreds took to the streets after police went on strike over a pay dispute.

National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop said in a radio broadcast that the looting had been carried out by “opportunists”.

The government has deployed the army to try and restore order.

“We have seen unprecedented level of strife in our city, something that has never happened before in the history of our city and our country,” Mr Parkop said in a radio address, according to a Reuters report.

He added that “some people sadly lost their life today” though he did not give a number of dead.

The unrest was triggered after police and other public servants staged a protest strike outside parliament on Wednesday, after discovering that their pay had been reduced by up to 50%.

Prime Minister James Marape said up to 300 kina ($120;62) had been deducted from the pay-checks of public servants because of a computer glitch, and the government was not raising taxes as the protesters claimed.

“Social media picked up on this wrong information, misinformation,” said Mr Marape, according to the New York Times, adding that people took advantage of police being off the streets.

TV footage showed large crowds and looting across the city. A large shopping centre was among the buildings set on fire.

Ambulance officials said they had attended to several shooting injuries, while the US embassy reported shots near its compound.

By Wednesday night, much of the violence had ceased as initial reports filtered in of deaths. Port Moresby has a population of about 400,000 people.

On Thursday, Australia, a neighbouring and major security partner for PNG, urged for calm in the country.