Violent riots erupt in Papua New Guinea, killing multiple people - 9 News Australia - video Dailymotion

Violent riots erupt in Papua New Guinea, killing multiple people - 9 News Australia

Transcript

00:00 It's anarchy on the streets of Papua New Guinea as horrific rioting and looting sweeps through the capital Port Moresby

00:07 brought on by a police strike.

00:09 Tonight at least 15 people are dead and 9 News can reveal

00:13 Australia's Defence Force and Federal Police are standing by to assist should the situation spiral further out of control.

00:22 Smoke plumes over a burning city.

00:27 Chaos on Port Moresby streets below, shops pillaged and torched, no place safe from being ransacked.

00:34 Even Papua New Guinea's Parliament coming under siege.

00:37 Its gates torn away as opportunistic mobs wreak havoc.

00:46 These were large movements of people who were sweeping around climbing over fences trying to break down doors of supermarkets.

00:53 What began as a protest by public servants over pay,

00:57 descending into lethal unrest after police joined the strike.

01:01 It really is a thin blue line. It's a very volatile situation.

01:09 It can easily explode.

01:11 At least 15 people killed in Port Moresby and PNG's second largest city, Ley.

01:17 We continue to urge calm.

01:21 Only last month, Anthony Albanese and his PNG counterpart signed a comprehensive security agreement

01:27 allowing Australia to assist PNG tackling internal troubles.

01:32 Just weeks later, James Murappe is facing calls to resign.

01:37 The buck stops with the Prime Minister.

01:40 We haven't had any requests from the PNG government.

01:44 Yesterday it happened. We acknowledge. We look into how we could correct.

01:48 The security agreement signed last month was designed to ensure that Australia, not China, remains PNG's partner of choice.

01:56 But that strategic move comes with potentially heavy burden.

02:00 If PNG turns into a conflict zone, lack of food, lack of nutrition, that is going to impact Australia.

02:10 The Australian Federal Police and Defence Force personnel are on standby to assist.

02:15 Andrew Provan, Nine News.

02:17 Thanks for watching.

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