The UPNG Police Shooting
On June 8, 2016 members of the Royal PNG Constabulary opened fire at protesting University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) students in Port Moresby, resulting in injuries to people (Tlozek, 2016).
The protesters wanted Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to step down from office and present himself for an interview in relation to alleged corruption.
Mr O’Neill subsequently announced a Commission of Inquiry into the UPNG shooting a week after the incident (Kil, 2016).
The Royal PNG Constabulary and the Ombudsman Commission announced separate independent investigations.
The police shootings drew widespread local and international condemnation. But the commission of inquiry promised by the PM did not eventuate nor did the RPNGC management or the Ombudsman Commission publicize details of their findings.
The policemen behind the June 8 shooting at the UPNG gate remain free and are yet to be held accountable for their actions, which resulted in scores of students and members of the public receiving gunshot wounds (Editor, 2016).
Sadly another commission of inquiry promised by Mr O’Neill which did not eventuate in the last term of government. It joins the other inquiries that he announced into the National Housing Corporation and the PNG Defence Force Manumanu land deal, which has hardly made traction despite the impact on the lives of ordinary citizens.
Papua New Guineans continue to cry out for justice but where are those whom they gave the mandate to protect them?
