Anti-Asian uprising in Papua New Guinea

For the last couple of days, I have been watching closely the latest developments in major cities around Papua New Guinea involving businesses owned by Asians. The situation doesn't look good and sends a chilling message to the business community and others who are interested in doing business in Papua New Guinea.

Caught red-handed . . . The normally quiet Eastern Highlands capital of Goroka witnessed ugly scenes yesterday morning as mobs of youths looted stores and police responded with gunfire and teargas. Armed security guards are pictured questioning a looter from a Goroka store.

First, I think that the government needs to be blamed for not tightening up the immigration laws and doesn't know what's happening in these major cities. I sympathize with some Asians who are legally in Papua New Guinea conducting their businesses but most of the Asians are doing their businesses illegally behind closed doors with some politicians, those who seem to call themselves, 'leaders' in the eyes of the public.

That triggers locals to ransack their premises because some or even most of the products they carry are of low quality and again some of these businesses need to be reserved for locals. To my knowledge, a lot of Asians are paying huge sums of money to leaders who are involved in the immigration process to get them into the country to conduct their business. This prevents parties involved to investigate the validity of these businesses which are seem to be owned and operated by people of Asian origin.

So that solves the problem if you asked why locals loot the shops owned by Asians. Who is to be blamed here? Is it the locals? Asians; some on fake work permits and passports? or the government? You decide to answer the question. In my opinion, the latter take precedent over the other two but nothing seems to be done and it is prevalent now that it's boiling over from city to city. I don't encourage locals to loot nor do I support in anyway involving Asian owned shops but from my observation, this trend will continue even the police intervenes.

It can happen like this in the 'Land of the Unexpected' if you don't play by the rules

The government need to formulate policies to reserve businesses which locals can be engaged are now seem to be run by Asians. Furthermore, loopholes in the immigration system involving people of Asian decent should be investigated and justice should be served on those who are illegally doing businesses in Papua New Guinea.

If politicians or leaders are getting themselves engaged with Asians to do businesses in this manner; then, that's the end product you get when locals are fed up with junk from Asian countries. We deserve better, not junk goods selling on the streets for less than a dollar. It saddens me when those who are trusted and bestowed the leadership role have misused their privilege and gotten themselves involved in these kinds of businesses. Bottom line is, we are scratching the skin, the more ugly scenes are yet to come. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

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