Policing Mayhem: PNG Parliament Stormed Over Owed APEC Bonuses
What Happened?
Two days after the International Summit fizzled out, a brigade of police officers and army soldiers commandeered Parliament in Port Moresby, smashing windows, assaulting staff and demanding their unpaid APEC perks.
Key Details
- Who was involved? Hundreds of police and soldiers, according to a witness—a mix of uniformed officers and armored vehicles.
- Why the uproar? They’re missing the $104 (350 Kina) special APEC duty allowance, supposedly due to be processed in a week.
- What went sour? Staff members were hit, and office décor (photo frames, potted plants, glassware) went to pieces. One Facebook video captured a wall‑to‑wall meltdown.
- Location chaos? The protest spill‑over blocked traffic and forced a neighboring hotel into lockdown; the angry crowd marched toward a stadium.
Government’s Response
Police spokesman Dominic Kakas said the situation’s being handled but didn’t yet know the exact numbers. The APEC Secretary Chris Hawkins hinted that payments “should take a week” and urged security staff to check their bank statements.
Local Sentiment
While the country flaunted 40 Maseratis for dignitaries, locals are grumbling over a $4 billion‑sized summit that, at the same time, sees clinicians pressed for school paychecks and battling an uptick of polio and malaria.
Takeaway
In short, a flamboyant visit to the Pacific nation turned into a parade of disgruntled cops and troops, forcing Parliament into a glass‑splintered showdown—proof that when promises are delayed, unrest is a short‑circuit away.
