Chinese targeted in Papua New Guinea
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Extra police are being sent to protect Chinese-run businesses in Papua New Guinea in the wake of recent looting. Since last Wednesday, looters have attacked Chinese businesses as a wave of anti-Chinese sentiment spread across the South Pacific island nation. "We've increased the police presence in the main centres where we expect that incidents might occur," police spokesman Dominik Kakas told New Zealand Radio International. An anti-Asian immigration march in the capital Port Moresby last week sparked the rioting, with many Papua New Guineans blaming the Chinese for their poor standard of living and for unfair business practices, said the National, a local newspaper. Last Friday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned Chinese citizens and institutions to be cautious if they are going to the country. Zhou Hanbo of the Chinese Embassy in Port Moresby told Papua New Guinea's Post Courier newspaper that the Chinese government was "gravely concerned". "It is our sincere hope that the Papua New Guinean government will take effective measures to prevent such incidents from recurring, so as to ensure a peaceful environment for all people in the country to live harmoniously and work safely," he said. Police said some of the latest attacks were probably not anti-Chinese but purely criminal acts. They've sent additional manpower to Madang, Kainantu, Goroka and Port Moresby, Kakas said. He said the situation was under control in Port Moresby and Lae and many Chinese businesses have re-opened. The National newspaper said police had gone on high alert in Mount Hagen to stop the anti-Asian attacks. It also said hundreds of looters attacked Chinese-owned shops in Madang on Saturday and Sunday. The newspaper estimated the weekend damage at close to 250,000 kina ($95,000). Questions: 1. In which region is Papua New Guinea situated? 2. When did an anti-Chinese demonstration take place? 3. Name the capital of Papua New Guinea? Answers: 1. The South Pacific. 2. Last Wednesday. 3. Port Moresby. |
