Police commissioner David Manning reinstated after PNG riots

12:54 pm on 26 January 2024
Papua New Guinea's police commissioner David Manning speaks to the media after the release of a New Zealand man -- a professor at an Australian university -- and his two Papua New Guinean colleagues in Port Moresby on February 26, 2023. A New Zealander and two other hostages have been freed in Papua New Guinea, the country's prime minister said February 26, after they were held for a week in the highlands by an armed group. (Photo by ANDREW KUTAN / AFP)

Photo: ANDREW KUTAN

Papua New Guinea's Police Commissioner, David Manning, has been reinstated after being stood down following riots and looting on 10 January.

That rioting was sparked by a police protest after unannounced deductions from their wages, which the government blamed on a glitch.

The protest led to a riot causing the deaths of more than 20 people, widespread looting and hundreds of millions of dollars of damage to businesses.

Amnesty International called on authorities to protect human rights in response to the riots.

The 14-day state of emergency following the violence has now ended.

The National newspaper reported Prime Minister James Marape announced Manning's reinstatement, and that of Taies Sansan as the Department of Personnel Management Secretary, after administrative preliminary investigations concluded.

This picture shows a damaged building in Port Moresby on January 12, 2023. Troops patrolled the streets of Papua New Guinea's capital on January 12, under a state of emergency following riots that killed 16 across the country's two largest cities. (Photo by AFP)

This picture shows a damaged building in Port Moresby on 12January 2023. Photo: STR / AFP

However, Treasury Secretary Andrew Oake and Finance Secretary Samuel Penias remained suspended "due to their failure to update the salary system, which led to the events of Jan 10", Marape said.

Marape also said Deputy Police Commissioner Dr Philip Mina was being suspended.

A commission of inquiry will be appointed to look into the police force.

"The commission of inquiry will be headed by a Judge from the Supreme Court and National Court, and will be concluded as soon as possible, to look into the structure, the operation, and their ethics of conduct," Marape said.

"The country deserves to have a police force that is effective and efficient. We will leave no stone unturned as we recover, reboot and restore."

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs