O'Neill gov't orders deployment of Troops to restore Law and Order in Southern Highlands Province.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his government has ordered deployment of  additional police and Defence Force persennel to Mendi, Southern Highlands province to restore law and order. He announced this after the National Executive Council made the decision this morning to declare a state of emergency in Mendi.

Former Southern Highlands Provincial Administrator Thomas Eluh has been appointed SOE Controller in the province.  A 6pm to 6am curfew has been imposed to curtail further trouble in Mendi Southern Highlands Province.

The leaders both political and local who are behind inciting the latest violence will all be arrested and charged within a 21-day period.


The riot in Mendi follows a National Court decision yesterday dismissing the election petition by Joseph Kobol who was challenging the election result declaring William Powi as Governor.

An Air Niugini, PNGLink Dash 8 aircraft was set on fire at Mendi airport, the District and National Court Building as well as Governor William Powi’s residence were set alight in the election related violence to hit the Province.

AIR Niugini Chief Executive Officer Durani Tahawar said this morning that the Captain & Crew of the torched Link PNG Airline have safely arrived in Mount Hagen from Mendi under  escort and are now being checked in at a safe Hotel.

“Our HGU staff is with them and we are grateful that they are safe, they shall return tomorrow to Port Moresby.”