International pressure mounting on PNG Government

International and regional organizations are mounting pressure on Papua New Guinea Government to immediately set up an independent investigation into what caused police to use force against unarmed university student protestors.

The United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Transparency International issued separate statements today, concerned over Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's initial reaction after yesterday's confrontation.

Several eye-witnesses have come forward to say they saw students beaten and shot at.

The organizations urged the Government to establish a prompt, impartial and independent investigation to determine who is responsible for the unnecessary and excessive use of force.

Amnesty International says, the shooting of students is a disgraceful attack on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression, adding it is reminiscent of the worst excesses of repressive regimes in the region.

It says, the Prime Minister's reaction has been completely inadequate, blaming students for what happened to them, and sought to evade accountability.

The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, stressed the importance of respect for peaceful protest and freedom of assembly.

Human Rights Watch says a one-sided government investigation to hunt for alleged ‘instigators’ among the students is simply unacceptable.

It says PNG, as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, has an international legal obligation to respect the rights of life, bodily integrity, and security as well as the right to protest and investigate all potential violations.

Transparency International PNG, says shooting at defenseless students is simply unacceptable.

The Pacific Islands News Association has also condemned the use of firearms against unarmed students. NBC/ PNG Today