Students’ maturity praised

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, May 22, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

BOYCOTTING students from the University of Papua New Guinea have been praised for their matured approach to their protest demands.

Oro Governor Gary Juffa praised the leadership qualities portrayed by the student in light of the heavy presence of police at the Waigani Campus.

“Our students are demonstrating patience and true leadership qualities which I am sad to say we do not see often in parliament,” Governor Juffa said.

“They have been well behaved following all procedures and processes; they have not acted with violence with no destruction of property, no threat of intimidation of state entities or other students.”

“Everything has been done in a very reasonable, mature manner- and I would like to commend the students for that.”

The vocal governor also reminded student from his province of the support of his provincial government in their democratic rights of self-expression and dissent.

“I for myself encourage my student from my province that on behalf of my provincial government we are behind you- to protect your right to dissent, your right to express yourself freely as a citizen in a democratic nation,” Governor Juffa said.

“If they decide that they want to continue and the year be cancelled, the government will support them.”

“If the students feel it is important enough to take whatever measures to take to stand up to speak on behalf of our country and people by all means we should support them.”

He said was vital to protect the fundamental democratic right of dissent- adding that what the government was doing in terms of preventing peaceful dissent as sending the wrong signals to the rest of the world.

“We are now behaving like the way Indonesia behaves towards people protesting in regards to matters of say West Papua.”

“Behaving the way governments of Burma and other autocratic governments behave when their citizens rise up to express concern. They use brutality and oppression.”