Papua New Guinea's prime minister is today due in the capital of Southern Highlands which is in the grip of politically-driven unrest.
Papua New Guinea prime minister Peter O'Neill. Photo: PNG Blogs
Peter O'Neill's government declared a state of emergency in the province following last week's rampage in Mendi by supporters of a losing election candidate.
They destroyed a commercial aircraft at Mendi airport, and set fire to local courthouses, the provincial governor's residence and other buildings.
As part of the emergency provisions, PNG's government has suspended the provincial government and ordered extra deployments of armed forces.
Following this, supporters of the suspended government in the province's west have been mobilising with high-powered weapons, threatening violence.
Police and community leaders in Southern Highlands have described the unrest as a political problem.
In recent days pressure had been growing on elected leaders from the province, including Mr O'Neill, to go to Southern Highlands and hold talks to forge peace.
Mr O'Neill has agreed to visit Mendi today, delaying his scheduled departure to China where he is due to lead a government delegation for a state visit.
The prime minister's political opponents have been demanding that he stand down over the unrest, which has spread to other parts of the province.
But the prime minister has denied suggestions that the unrest is a sign that people in his own province have rejected his leadership.
Apologies
On Sunday Mr O'Neill held a press conference in PNG's capital Port Moresby with other elected leaders from Southern Highlands province as well as losing candidates in the disputed regional election.
Papua New Guinea prime minister Peter O'Neill campaigns in Goroka. Photo: PNG PM Media Office
He apologised to PNG for the unrest in Mendi and said the leaders had all agreed that law and order would be restored in Southern Highlands.
The prime minister said those behind the rampage acted "mainly out of frustration that they have not been given the opportunity to engage in the court proceedings which resulted in a decision that they were not accepting".
Last week's court ruling upholding Southern Highlands governor William Powi's 2017 election win sparked the rampage by supporters of the runner-up, Joseph Kobol, who had challenged the election result in court.
At the Moresby press conference, Mr Kobol also apologised for the actions of his supporters.
He admitted the destruction of an Air Niugini Dash-8 aircraft was uncalled for, saying he was willing to let the election challenge be handled by the court system.
Suspects Identified
A building burns in Mendi during a period of political unrest. Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Melvin Levongo
Papua New Guinea police said at least 15 suspects were under investigation after last Thursday's mob rampage in Mendi.
Assistant commissioner David Manning told the Post-Courier police would be looking at all angles because they needed to ensure anyone who had even the remotest involvement in the incident was investigated.
There was "no discrimination between the person who lit the match and the person who directed him to do so over the phone", Mr Manning said.
The investigation was just one part of police state of emergency operations which would be carried out over the next three months, he said.
About 70 police mobile force staff have been deployed in the state of emergency area and more are on standby.
