University Campus in Papua New Guinea Shocks Nation After Woman is Assaulted by Mob

A harrowing incident has shaken Papua New Guinea as a young woman was subjected to a brutal assault by a large group of men on a university campus. The incident, which was captured on video, has sparked outrage across the country and has been condemned by university officials, women's rights advocates, and members of the public.

According to footage shared online, the woman was walking across the campus late at night with her hands over her ears, clearly distressed, as a group of men surrounded her, shouting and jeering. Despite being accompanied by two security guards, she was physically attacked multiple times by the mob. The guards were unable to prevent the assault, which left the woman struggling to fend off the attackers.

The incident occurred over the weekend at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology in Lae. The university's vice-chancellor, Ora Renagi, issued a strong condemnation of the behavior, calling the video 'deeply disturbing.' He emphasized that mob behavior and harassment are unacceptable and that those responsible would face disciplinary action.

'Mob behaviour is unacceptable, harassment is a crime, and such actions will not be tolerated,' Professor Renagi said in a statement. The university has launched an investigation into the incident and is working to identify the individuals involved.

A statement from the university's student body claimed that the woman was not a registered student and that the incident followed a verbal altercation between her and a male student after she attempted to enter a first-year dormitory.

Maureen Jane, a prominent journalist and women's rights advocate, expressed deep anger over the incident, calling it a reflection of systemic gender-based violence in the country. 'I'm sickened to the bone. I'm sickened to the core of my soul,' she said in an interview with the ABC. She urged government leaders to address the issue of 'men's mob mentality' and to take action against gender-based violence.

'What does it mean for women, our sisters, mothers, and girls 50 years on?' she asked, as the country prepares to mark the 50th anniversary of its independence next month. 'Women leaders from all levels of government, the PNG society, please come together to eradicate these barbaric acts.'

Dadi Toka Junior, a former politician, expressed concern over the behavior of educated citizens. 'I'm deeply concerned about the next generation of leaders coming through our highest education institutions,' he said. The incident has also sparked a wave of social media reactions, with opposition MP Allan Bird calling on men to choose whether they would be 'perpetrators or defenders' of women's rights.

As the nation grapples with this disturbing event, the incident has reignited conversations about the need for cultural change and the urgent need to address gender-based violence at all levels of society.