PETER S KINJAP
A LAWYER representing banned students at the University of Papua New Guinea, Laken Aigilol, will challenge the UPNG Administration termination decision in court.
"I will look at seeking the Court's mercy to stay the exclusion and review this decision,” Mr Aigilol said.
Mr Aigilol himself is being sued by UPNG for contempt of court for aiding the students in a case that will be heard on 13 September.
“It will be a mammoth task defending myself and the student leaders," he said.
The UPNG Administration permanently excluded 60 Student Representative Council members and student leaders, including a number of women, who in June led strike action against prime minister Peter O'Neill.
They have been deregistered from studies and have been permanently banned from studying at UPNG.
During the protests, police shot into a crowd of students, wounding more than 20 people.
In a letter to the excluded students, Professor Mange Matui claimed the UPNG Administration had credible evidence that they had been involved in student unrest and boycott.
“Based on the reports I have received, and after careful considerations of relevant evidences and circumstances,” Prof Matui wrote, “you have breached all laws of PNG, including the Criminal Code Act and the Summary Offences Act.
“You are hereby excluded permanently from the University of Papua New Guinea.”