The Vanuatu Council of Ministers has not determined whether to repatriate Vanuatu students who are caught in the midst of student unrest in Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby.
Minister of Education, Jean Pire Nirua has assured Vanuatu of the students’ safety in the wake of heightened tension that escalated from the PNG students protest and police shootout that resulted in one death and several injuries.
Mr Nirua said all 20 students studying in universities and the medical faculty of Papua New Guinea are safe.
He said the government is placing the safety and welfare of the Vanuatu students at highest alert.
He assured parents and guardians of the students in Vanuatu that the government is closely monitoring the situation.
A planned council of ministers meeting yesterday to decide on the next step, did not eventuate. However, government authorities say the students themselves have been taking necessary precautions and preparing to move out of their various university campuses to safer locations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is maintaining constant contact with the students.
Nine students are studying at the Lae University of Technology (UNITECH), five at the University of Papua New Guinea and six at the Medical Faculty of Papua New Guinea.
An image of the reported police shooting of university students in Papua New Guinea (SoloNews)