Looting Reported in Port Moresby as Police Storm Parliament Over Pay Dispute

Looting was reported in Port Moresby on November 20 after police and military stormed Papua New Guinea’s national parliament over a pay dispute. Soldiers and police reportedly smashed windows, artwork and other property in the parliament building in protest over allowances not being paid to security personnel who guarded the APEC trade conference at the weekend. Shadow Minister for Public Service, Public Enterprises and State Investments Bryan Kramer posted footage to Facebook that depicted the damage inside parliament. “The situation here is quite tense,” Kramer said. “Numerous staff of parliament were assaulted during this confrontation.” Local news reported that staff were sent home early, and many businesses and schools closed for the day due to riots. Police Commissioner Gari Baki announced after the disturbances that all allowances for personnel involved would be paid, EMTV reported. The person who shot this video, who wished to remain anonymous, said there was looting going on at a market in the central district of Waigani. She said police were firing warning shots, and that the people seen running in her video were not looters, but innocent people running for cover. Credit: Anonymous via Storyful