Morobe Governor, Luther Wenge today presented the petition from the students of the University of Technology to Prime Minister, James Marape at the Tutumang Provincial Assembly Haus in Lae, following a sitting protest on Monday at Unitech concerning the signing of the Defense Cooperation Agreement between Papua New Guinea and the United States.

PM Marape received the petition as part of his two-day official visit to Lae.

When addressing the members of the Provincial Assembly, Marape acknowledged the petition presented by the governor saying, “The National Government will not do anything unconstitutional. The people have the right to express themselves concerning government decisions.”

He thanked the students for the petition and said, “I appreciate the maturity of the students and the people in 2023. During the previous successive governments, we burn vehicles, we fight and argue.”

The Prime Minister further clarified the Defense Cooperation Act to the Chamber saying it’s not new.

“There’s a Law passed in 1975 by the government called the Defense Visiting Force Act. This allows the country to enter into agreement and partnership with International Military Forces.”

PM Marape

Marape said there would be more agreements following the DCA when Parliament sits again. He said copies of the defence agreements with Indonesia and Australia will be made accessible to the public, however, the recently signed US pact would be accessible later.

The Prime Minister further stated that the signed agreement with US Defense Force will help strengthen PNG’s Military Force.

Marape said a session will be hosted tomorrow at the University of PNG by government officials to outline details of the DCA. The same session will be held with students from Unitech next week.

PM Marape’s visit to the Tutumang Provincial Assembly Haus today makes him the first Prime Minister to address the members of the Provincial Assembly of Tutumang.

He later moved with his delegation including the Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Lae, John Rosso, National Planning Minister and Finschhafen MP, Rainbo Paita and Minister for Community Development and Huon Gulf MP, Jason Peter to the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium for a public forum concerning the Wafi Golpu Gold and Copper Mine.

The PM will address the private sector tomorrow in a business breakfast, facilitated by the Lae Chamber of commerce and Industry, before returning to Port Moresby.