Church condemns police shooting of uni students

A CHURCH group has condemned the alleged police shooting of university students in Port Moresby last Wednesday.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG)  said the students had done no wrong and did not deserve to be shot like criminals.
Church head bishop Rev Jack Urame made the comments last Friday following reports in the media that a number of students from the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby were shot by police during a protest.
Urame said: “We, as church, want to express that the recent shooting of UPNG students by police in Port Moresby is unacceptable. The police force is there to enforce law and protect human lives and not to cause harm or destroy them in any way through acts of violence.
“Duties of disciplinary forces such as this should be executed in an orderly manner.”
Urame said using extreme force and high-powered guns to shoot unarmed students was irrational.
He said violence was a sign of a sick society.
“Violence is against our Christian values of love and respect,” he said.
“We appeal to the police, the Government and students to act sensibly to avoid further violence in the country.”