PNG: Police Shoot Anti-World Bank Protestors

3 UPNG students are dead and several more in a critical condition; several have also disappeared into police custody.

The students have had a 5-day blockade of the government buildings.

After local police refused to disperse them, Prime Minister Morauta flew the riot police down from their usual job of protecting the US and Canadian owned oil, gas and gold mines in the PNG highlands.

Last night (Monday) these task force police dispersed the demonstrators and then followed them into the university where they attacked the students and tried to arrest the SRC leaders.

In response to the night time shootings the students and youth attacked and looted shops this morning.

This afternoon the PNG TUC has called a general strike to support the students, the PNG Maritime workers union has already started holding up ships tonight and are asking for foreign maritime unions to black all PNG cargo.

John Paska General secretary of the PNG TUC who endorsed the S11 Melbourne blockade and the S26 Prague action is now asking for union support in close by countries for further demonstrations against the World Bank.

For messages of support his phone and fax number is country code (675)3257642.

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