Somare criticises police

EAST Sepik Governor Sir Michael Somare condemned the action of police at the University of PNG campus yesterday.
“It is inexcusable that unarmed students are fired upon by police as they prepare to peacefully march to Parliament,” he said.
“We need to establish who gave the orders for policemen to inflict harm on unarmed students.
“What warranted police to surround the campus in the first instance? Is the university safeguarding the interest of our young people?
“I call on police to stand down in the interest of the public. You are not there to protect the interest of individual politicians. I have never used the police for my own interest during my time in office and nor should any other individual holding office. It is a bad precedent for our emerging democracy.
“I also call on (Police) Commissioner Gari Baki to call his men to stand down.”
Sir Michael suggested Prime Minister Peter O’Neill defuse the situation by stepping down from office.
“My concern stems from the fact that as a senior Papua New Guinean, I do not want our country to come undone because leaders are abusing their office at the expense of our people,” he said.