Unions, students and NGOs await response

By CALDRON LAEPA
MEMBERS of trade unions, non-governmental organisations and university students are waiting for a government response to the petition they gave after a protest march on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill received the petition at the Sir John Guise Stadium where he addressed a crowd that wanted the new judicial conduct law repealed and the general election to be held as scheduled.
President of the PNG Doctors Association Dr Kauve Pomat said this yesterday in a press conference.
O’Neill had assured the protesters that the election would be held in June. On the new law, he said it would be repealed on the condition that Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia and Justice Nicholas Kirriwom stepped down as members of the judiciary while investigations were carried out on them.
Pomat said the coalition partners would discuss their next course of action if no response was forthcoming from the government.
He urged the partners and citizens to remain firm while they negotiated with the government to repeal the new law without conditions.
They would also push for the election to be held in June as scheduled.
Pomat said the government was not given any deadline to respond but warned that the coalition partners could conduct a similar protest if they were not satisfied with the government’s response.