Protest a collective effort of students from all provinces

THE University of PNG is a premier learning institution in the country and the South Pacific.
It has contributed significantly to­wards human resource development and will continue to do so.
It must be understood clearly and with good faith that there are university by-laws and statures in place that guard and monitor the movement and behaviour of students in all tertiary institutions.
The  student representatives council (SRC) is a body created by a parliament act that is responsible for students’ welfare.
Dr Allan Marat claims the protest march by UPNG students against the Judicial Conduct Act on March 23 was the workings of students from Enga, who are biased towards fellow Engan Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia.
Marat needs to understand that the protest march at Waigani was the  result of a resolution passed by the student body at a general forum meeting the day before.
In this meeting, representatives from 22 provinces aired their official stand, after consultation with their respective provincial groups.
The organising committee consisted of students from various provinces, not Enga alone, and in fact, included Marat’s own Niugini Islands region, who were some of the most vocal and active members be­hind the march.
We do not deny that three out of five SRC executives are Engans but young Papua New Guineans from different provinces played important roles in key aspects of the petition and the march.
The petition was drawn up by a committee chaired by a Sepik student while a Papuan chaired the committee that prepared the opinion on the bill.
Similarly, the march on April 10 was organised peacefully to submit three petitions to the prime minister.
We did not look at regional lines when we stood together for a common goal.
Even the prime minister has acknowledged the UPNG petition in his address to the nation as being “in the public’s interest”.
This kind of hate speech designed to break students’ morale in UPNG must be strongly condemned.
We seek an apology from Marat for his reckless statements made on air via Radio New Zealand International as they were deliberate attempts to dishearten and break up the common resolve of the student body to have the judicial act repealed.
We ask the prime minister to speak with his justice minister and ensure such dangerous statements are never made again.
Such statements may cause public unrest and unnecessary violence, which we must all condemn, regardless of what side of the argument we take.
UPNG is not the “University of Enga”, but belongs to the people of PNG.
The students do not support the government, the opposition or individual MPs and aspiring politicians.
The students are the eyes and ears of the silent majority of PNG.
On behalf of the UPNG Enga Students Association, I would also like to inform our parents, sponsors and relatives that we did what we were supposed to do.
We cannot let evil triumph by doing nothing.
Our education is our priority, but as citizens of this beautiful nation, it is also our obligation to let our people know that we will stand united and act in the best interest of the people.
Being educated this far, it is our responsibility to educate our people and do what is morally right for a fair, safe and just Papua New Gui­nea.

Mortimer Yangharry
President
UPNG Enga Students Association