Parliament Speaker Job Pomat expressed deepest regret over the destruction and ransacking of the National Parliament properties today (November 20) at midday by police and Correctional Service Officers.
More than 300 police and Correctional Service officers marched into the National Parliament precincts smashing and destroying anything from the entrance into the office building.
Mr. Pomat as the Chairman in charge of the Parliament said he is very sorry and upset on the happenings to the Parliament and labeled that all leaders can feel responsible because some leaders may have part-take in the drama.
For the first time, this has happened in Papua New Guinea and I urged the Government to find those responsible to face the full consequence of their actions, he added.
“I remind all leaders that the man who gave us the Bible was here at the Parliament. We always pray to God for forgiveness but I observed we don’t forgive. As Chairman, I ask all leaders to unite and not repeat this again in the House.”
The sudden attack took staff members of the National Parliament who are at work running all directions in panic and towards the exit doors to vacate the Parliament precincts for safety.
Security officers who were the first to be approached at the main entrance were harassed and personal items such as mobile phones and laptops were taken off while damages and lootings were done to the security’s front desk all the way into the office.
Glasses on many of the offices were smashed including glasses of private vehicles at the car park.
From the main Parliament A and B Wing, broken glasses are everywhere, not safe for anybody to be walking in and out including pulling down of furniture, flower pots, water cooler, Post Office windows, and doors are all smashed with ruins on the floor everywhere.
Cleaning is slowly taking place but the extent of the damage is yet to be established.
Picture 1 – Bills and Papers Office smashed from the outside and around to the Human Resource office.
Picture 2 – The main security entrance into the Parliament where the camera scanner and the counter desk was destroyed leading into the main office corridors and rooms.
Source: National Parliament Media (Press Release: November 20, 2018)
