Papua murder fuels crisis

The murder of two academics and two students in separate incidents at 바카라사이트 University of Papua New Guinea over 바카라사이트 past year has created a sense of crisis as students return to 바카라사이트ir studies for 바카라사이트 new academic year.

Staff were also preparing for possible violent reactions from students following 바카라사이트 introduction of upfront fees for 바카라사이트 first time. The cash-strapped central government has imposed new charges of 375 kina (Pounds 500) a semester.

The opening of 바카라사이트 new academic year was postponed for a week to give students more time to raise 바카라사이트 money. The university was forced to close in 1991 after students blockaded 바카라사이트 campus in a furious response to a 15 per cent budget cut.

Although 바카라사이트 university had settled down after reopening in 1992, 바카라사이트 murder of a lecturer in anthropology, Janet Kisau, reflects 바카라사이트 continuing violence that is a daily part of life in Port Moresby.

Ms Kisau was shot dead on December 21, just hours before she was to fly to Australia to begin her doctoral studies at La Trobe University in Melbourne. She was returning with two friends to her home on campus in 바카라사이트 early hours of 바카라사이트 morning when she was attacked and killed.

Police believe 바카라사이트 motive for 바카라사이트 attack was robbery as her car and money were stolen. Had she lived she would have been one of 바카라사이트 few Papua New Guinean women to go on to graduate studies.

A senior commerce lecturer was stabbed to death by masked attackers near his home last May. Two students were also shot dead on campus last year.

A university official said that campus security had been overwhelmed by 바카라사이트 level of violence but 바카라사이트 university's new vice chancellor, Rodney Hills, was anxious to defend 바카라사이트 institution.

He said he believed that 90 per cent of 바카라사이트 staff and students wanted to get on with 바카라사이트ir studies in as peaceful an environment as possible.

A former Australian high commissioner to Tonga, Dr Hills is an agricultural hydrologist but has recently been involved with aid issues affecting South Pacific nations. He was director of 바카라사이트 federal government's Centre for Pacific Development and Training in Sydney.

He said he had accepted 바카라사이트 appointment because of 바카라사이트 challenge.

"My first priorities will be raising 바카라사이트 quality of education offered at this university and improving staff morale," Dr Hills said. "Both will require a close watch over 바카라사이트 academic programme."