Pacific / Papua New Guinea

Terminated student leaders in PNG back at uni

14:53 pm on 27 September 2016

Seven student leaders at the University of Papua New Guinea who were terminated last month for their part in student protests earlier this year are back in school this week.

University of Papua New Guinea students gathered to discuss their demand for the prime minister's resignation Photo: UPNG4PNG

According to the newspaper The National this comes after the Waigani National Court granted a stay on the university's decision to permanently ban them.

The seven are Student Representative Council vice-president Arthur Amos, treasurer Jamie Sali, School of Law representative Livai Kuaken, Highlands region representative Hercules Jim, New Guinea Islands representative Alois Kaluwe and student leaders Chris Kipalan and Steward Thoke.

Justice Leka Nablu granted an interim order stopping the university, its servants and agents from preventing the students from attending classes.

Justice Nablu also granted the students leave to apply for a judicial review of the UPNG decision.

The students are seeking orders to quash the university's decision to permanently exclude them, to reinstate them to the university and to be able to claim damages.

The matter returns to court on October 20.