Students from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) in Port Moresby are protesting the controversial Judicial Conduct Bill and plan to boycott classes in a bid to force parliament to repeal the bill.
According to reports in The National, UPNG Student Rep. Council President Isaac Emmanuel handed over a 5 page petition to the Prime Minister Peter O’Neil on Friday after they were not satisfied with his televised response. Print of the response is also published today in the local dailies.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel has also pointed the possibility of a nationwide boycotting of classes by the major universities. He said there is a common understanding among the varsities leaders in Goroka (GoU), Madang (DWU), and Lae (Unitech) and they are “behind the idea” of boycotting classes.
The University of Technology (Unitech) has already put support to their peers in Port Moresby with a petition and signature collection underway. Unitech SRC President Joe Kaowai said the student body was neutral but wanted wider consultation and debate on the bill before it is passed.
As elites of the country and humble citizens of Papua New Guinea (PNG) it is better for equally participating in the nation’s arising issues. I commend the UPNG students for the move to speak out their view on the controversial Judicial Conduct Bill. This is how tertiary students of PNG should do by speaking up their rights as equal citizens of PNG and as top elites and future leaders of this developing nation. Let your voice be heard and do not be intimidated.