When Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape addressed his nation and declared a state of emergency, he was flanked by 26 government MPs.
The optics were clear: this was as much a political crisis for the PM as it was a security one.
"Don't think James Marape is going anywhere," he declared.
After the deadly riots over the past 48 hours, Marape is now facing shifting political fortunes.
And as he tries to restore faith in his country's system of law and order and his government, he's suggesting it is the political establishment itself that could have had a role to play in this week's deadly violence.
He told a press conference, he is looking "deeper" into the various forces that were at play as the violence spread across Port Moresby and beyond.
"We are certainly not discounting the fact that there is deep political influence on the side to ensure this sort of thing does take place in our city and in our country," Marape said.
James Marape has faced a call to resign following the violence in Port Morseby and Lae.(Reuters: Lillian Suwanrumpha)
The political tinderbox
Politics in PNG is fragile, so much so a prime minister is protected from a vote of no confidence for 18 months after they're elected, just to maintain some stability in the system.
Marape has been prime minister since 2019 and was returned to office for a second term as part of a coalition government last year.
The no-confidence vote grace period expires in February and as they often do, the winds of change had started to swirl around him.
With speculation about Marape's future as PNG's leader, and increasing economic pressures across the country, Marape was in a precarious position.
Then police walked off the job.
It was then that the political tinder box ignited and the growing tensions sparked into the deadly riot that has now claimed 16 lives.
The economic hardship in PNG is severe, with a large number of young, unemployed people moving to settlements in Port Moresby only to face significant cost of living pressures.
Those social pressures, the looming political deadline and an increasing appetite for Marape's opponents to air their grievances with the government created the potential for unrest, but the prime minister is also suggesting it was political forces that partially lit the match.
"You want to change government? Change it on the floor of parliament, not using my people to create lawlessness and recklessness," he said on Thursday night.
Police went on strike yesterday as part of a demonstration against the government over a payroll issue.(ABC News: Tim Swanston)
As well as suggesting "political influence" was at play, the government has pointed to the decision by police to abandon their posts to stage a demonstration as the main reason unrest broke out.
Papua New Guinea's Royal Constabulary did so after being short-changed in their pay packets by about $120 each.
There were fears this was an intentional act, rather than a payroll glitch, and part of a plan to increase income tax — a claim denied by government and the national taxation body.
Opposition Leader Joseph Lelang told the ABC the rioters were "opportunists", but the government had "underestimated the economic hardship" of the people of PNG.
"There are many frustrated people out there, and this is the only way people can air their frustrations," he said.
Vote of no confidence
Marape has vowed to hold the "lawless" rioters to account, but some of his political opponents have called for him to take greater responsibility, claiming the situation should have never been allowed to happen.
There are calls for him to step aside, but Marape is intent on hanging on, instead suspending the commissioner of police, as well as the secretaries for treasury, finance and personnel management.
Lelang insists the opposition calls for the prime minister to step down are not about politics.
"We don't care who becomes the next prime minister," he said.
"But [Marape] needs to step aside, he needs to resign to pave way for a change."
Although murmurs of a challenge to Marape's leadership have been ongoing for months now, whether one would be triggered and who would compete against the PM are cards often kept close to the chest.
On Thursday, six MPs in coalition parties resigned from the government in protest, signalling there was now growing political appetite for his leadership to face its first challenge this term.
In the wake of at least 16 deaths and a city in tatters, Marape himself promised that heads would roll.
In the weeks ahead, he will learn if that includes his own.
Some local business owners are facing extraordinary repair bills.(ABC News: Tim Swanston)
Story By: PNG correspondent Tim Swanston in Port Moresby
Original Story link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-12/png-riots-political-forces-likely-factor-as-pm-faces-criticism/103309652
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