PNG police chief says parliament unrest politically motivated

Papua New Guinea's police commissioner has suggested the unrest at parliament by members of his force and other disciplinary forces this week was politically motivated.

On Tuesday, a group of police and corrections officers forcibly entered parliament and vandalised parts of the building, harassing parliament staff and demanding payment for work during last week's APEC summit.

Commissioner Gary Baki said there would be an investigation into the attack on parliament, which was directed at the government.

While disciplinary forces have been assured they will get paid, Mr Baki said those responsible for the unrest would not go unpunished.

However Loop PNG reported that at a press conference Mr Baki suggested the security force personnel had been misled into their rampage.

Echoing claims by members of government, the commissioner noted the presence of opposition MPs at the parliament at the time of the unrest, adding that this link would be investigated.

But members of the opposition said they were at parliament preparing for their response to the 2019 budget that was to be debated later that day in the chamber.

Opposition MP Bryan Kramer cautioned the commissioner to refrain from making accusations that he cannot prove, given public sensitivity concerning corruption and the misuse of public funds.