Deadly riots hit PNG City
At least two people are dead after violent rioting over the past few days which has crippled Papua New Guinea's main industrial centre of Lae on the country's north coast.
The government is warning it may have to declare a state of emergency.
Ironically the rioting was sparked by youths concerned at the city's growing lawlessness. It began last Thursday when a group of local youths gathered to present a petition to the provincial government.
They were concerned by a perceived increase in crime, particularly at Eriku, one of the city's main markets and public transport hubs.
The youths blamed people who have moved to the city from PNG's Highlands and set up camp in Lae's many squatter settlements.
Lae has a reputation for being one of PNG's roughest cities but even long-time residents like Meck Minnala say they have never felt so scared.
"The rioting was big. They were throwing stones at each other even in the restaurants of Lae," he said.
"A stone penetrated my window. They were wanting just about anything and everything. They went on a rampage bringing the whole city to a halt."
Mr Minnala says many residents share the rioters' concerns about crime at Eriku.
"Daylight robberies, pickpockets ... and there were two rapes in which one was a 13-year-old girl," he said.
"She was going to school and raped early in the morning and there was another rape again just in broad daylight at Eriku.
"It just has been going on and nobody has been paying attention to it."
The violence intensified on Friday and continued over the weekend.
Police say mobs of youths attacked settlements populated by Highlanders, looting and setting fire to their houses.
Assistant commissioner Giossi Labi says police were powerless to stop them.
"Lae police got only 270 duty policemen," he said.
"Mobility, there is none. They were driving old police cars."
Police crackdown
There have been two confirmed deaths - one man was shot and killed by police who say he was threatening officers with a homemade gun.
The body of another man was found in the burnt ruins of a house. There are unconfirmed reports of other fatalities, and the death toll is expected to rise as the dust settles.
Mr Labi says 100 extra policemen have been flown in from around the country.
He says what is known as a fight zone has been declared across the city.
"That will empower police to arrest anybody that is carrying stones or anybody that is doing a number from three to five," he said.
Prime minister Peter O'Neill says he understands the concerns of the rioting youths, but he condemns the way they have expressed them.
He says he will declare a state of emergency today if the violence has not stopped.
"The last thing we want to do is declare state of emergency to control what the behaviour of the community should be, but the government will have no choice but to do so," he said.
Police say the situation is now tense but calm. They're hoping businesses and schools that have been shut since last Thursday will be able to reopen today.
RADIO AUSTRALIA
The government is warning it may have to declare a state of emergency.
Ironically the rioting was sparked by youths concerned at the city's growing lawlessness. It began last Thursday when a group of local youths gathered to present a petition to the provincial government.
They were concerned by a perceived increase in crime, particularly at Eriku, one of the city's main markets and public transport hubs.
The youths blamed people who have moved to the city from PNG's Highlands and set up camp in Lae's many squatter settlements.
Lae has a reputation for being one of PNG's roughest cities but even long-time residents like Meck Minnala say they have never felt so scared.
"The rioting was big. They were throwing stones at each other even in the restaurants of Lae," he said.
"A stone penetrated my window. They were wanting just about anything and everything. They went on a rampage bringing the whole city to a halt."
Mr Minnala says many residents share the rioters' concerns about crime at Eriku.
"Daylight robberies, pickpockets ... and there were two rapes in which one was a 13-year-old girl," he said.
"She was going to school and raped early in the morning and there was another rape again just in broad daylight at Eriku.
"It just has been going on and nobody has been paying attention to it."
The violence intensified on Friday and continued over the weekend.
Police say mobs of youths attacked settlements populated by Highlanders, looting and setting fire to their houses.
Assistant commissioner Giossi Labi says police were powerless to stop them.
"Lae police got only 270 duty policemen," he said.
"Mobility, there is none. They were driving old police cars."
Police crackdown
There have been two confirmed deaths - one man was shot and killed by police who say he was threatening officers with a homemade gun.
The body of another man was found in the burnt ruins of a house. There are unconfirmed reports of other fatalities, and the death toll is expected to rise as the dust settles.
Mr Labi says 100 extra policemen have been flown in from around the country.
He says what is known as a fight zone has been declared across the city.
"That will empower police to arrest anybody that is carrying stones or anybody that is doing a number from three to five," he said.
Prime minister Peter O'Neill says he understands the concerns of the rioting youths, but he condemns the way they have expressed them.
He says he will declare a state of emergency today if the violence has not stopped.
"The last thing we want to do is declare state of emergency to control what the behaviour of the community should be, but the government will have no choice but to do so," he said.
Police say the situation is now tense but calm. They're hoping businesses and schools that have been shut since last Thursday will be able to reopen today.
RADIO AUSTRALIA
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