Papua New Guinea
| All flights into Papua New Guinea have been grounded |
| 13 Nov 2008 |
| Reports on 13 November 2008 indicate that all flights into Papua New Guinea have been grounded due to a pay dispute involving local air traffic controllers. Representatives of the Air Traffic Control Association stated that workers are currently on strike and negotiations with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to end the strike are ongoing. Papua New Guinea airlines Air Niugini and Airlines PNG reportedly canceled many flights and had to delay some domestic and international flights for three hours. CAA officials claim that they are working toward a resolution with the air traffic controllers and that airport operations will return to normal by the end of the week. |
| Petty theft excalated into police having to use teargas |
| 14 Oct 2008 |
| On 14 October 2008 police officers dispersed a group of men with teargas after they refused to discontinue fighting in the main Koki Market in downtown Port Moresby. In addition, police officers closed roads around the market in order to regain control of the situation. According to reports, the fight began when some of the men stole merchandise from a cigarette seller and attacked him after he demanded payment. The violence escalated when other individuals got involved and rock throwing ensued. Two men were also reportedly stabbed in the incident; the disturbances lasted for most of the day. Despite the nature of the incident that sparked the clashes, police officials claimed that the incident was a result of increasing tensions between the Tari and Goilala tribes.
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