Southern Highlands PNG

Southern Highlands govt suspended in PNG state of emergency

PNG's national executive council on Friday declared a State of Emergency for the province, and a call-out of the Defence Force in the following unrest in the provincial capital

A curfew has been imposed in Mendi between 6pm to 6am, our correspondent Melvin Levongo said there was also a heavy police presence in town.

He said none of the local politicians have spoken out about the incident and church leaders are trying to help reassure people.

PNG to declare state of emergency over Highlands unrest

During yesterday's unrest a commercial plane was destroyed, and the local courthouse and the residence of the provincial governor William Powi were burnt.

Local authorities say no one was injured when a Air Niugini Dash-8 aircraft was set on fire and destroyed on the airstrip at Mendi airport. The situation in the town is tense, the provincial capital having gone into lockdown overnight.

According to police, it was yesterday's national court ruling upholding Mr Powi's 2017 election which sparked the rampage.