Asian shops looted and burned in Papua New Guinea
Updated
There has been widespread looting and damage to Asian-owned businesses in Papua New Guinea's Highlands and Momase regions over the weekend.
It follows a recent protest march by unemployed youths against Asian businesses... who they claim are operating shops and bars illegally in the country.
Presenter: Firmin Nanol
Speakers: PNG police Inspector Augustine Wampe; Protest Organiser, Noel Anjo Kolae; Member of Parliament for Lae, Bart Philemon; Governor of Port Moresby, Powes Parkop
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NANOL: The widespread looting of Asian businesses - largely Chinese and Sri Lankan-owned -- started last week in Lae, in Papua New Guinea's Morobe Province.
It was initially sparked-off by an anti-Asian protest, organised by street youths in the capital, Port Moresby.
And at the weekend, thousands of people ransacked Asian shops in Madang and Goroka in the Eastern Highlands, walking-off with valuable items.
Police say they have increased security as the situation remains tense between the Asians shop owners and locals.
But they say they are unaware of the reasons for the looting... and it's caught them by surprise.
One police officer in Madang, however, says the locals claim that Asian business owners are entering and taking-over businesses, reserved for locals, illegally.
PNG's Eastern Islands Provincial Police Commander Inspector Augustine Wampe says four shops were looted and completely destroyed.
He says authorities are talking to the people to refrain from such violence against the Asian businesses in Goroka.
WAMPE: Some good leaders are addressing the crowd and they gave their grievances and so some shops that you have were looted, it's looted, broken into, and especially Asians.
NANOL: PNG police have blamed a pressure group known as 'NGO and Civil Society Group' for the lootings.
The group organised a protest march against the Asian business owners operating tuck shops and bars in Port Moresby.
Protest Organiser, Noel Anjo Kolae, claims the shopkeepers have taken over businesses reserved for locals.
KOLAE: Tyre services and secondhand clothes and things. I think this should be for the Papua New Guinean citizens. They are selling a lot of counterfeit products and it looks like most Asians are not paying tax that we see.
NANOL: Police say Noel Anjo Kolae should be arrested and charged for inciting anti-Asian sentiment.
But Noel Anjo says he will not accept blame for the looting as his NGO group has followed legal processes by writing to authorities informing them of their march.
He says the looting in Lae, Madang and Goroka has nothing to do with his group.
ANJO: And I have got proven track record of conducting, I mean stating peaceful protest march, this is not the first time. So those who are trying to take the law into their own hands, they can be arrested. But for me and my organisation, we have never broken any law. Whatever happens in Lae, they not my broke. I think it is some street people taking advantages of such things so.
NANOL: The National Member of Parliament for Lae in Morobe province, Bart Philemon, has condemned the looting, and wants those responsible be arrested and charged.
PHILEMON: I condemn outright the action in breaking, entering and looting the shops. I ask and appeal to those people not to repeat what has happened.
NANOL: The Governor of Port Moresby, Powes Parkop, has accused PNG's Immigration officials of a so-called 'influx of Asians' into the country.
He says PNG's Embassy in China should be held accountable for allowing the alleged 'aliens' into the country, undetected.
PARKOP: It starts with our embassy in Beijing, because that is where most people coming to Papua New Guinea, coming from southern China and if we have a consul in Shanghai, may be they can monitor these people properly and they probably just give work permit or .............? right who come into Papua New Guinea. So if it's real, then it is based on our certain community ??? that it is real and it shows that those two departments are not doing their job.
NANOL: PNG's Acting Prime Minister, Doctor Puka Temu, has told local media... the government will provide security, and has urged the Chinese community to reopen businesses as usual.
The government has also called for investigations into the allegations that some Asian businesses are operating illegally.
