Mellam: Boycott Illegal

UPNG Vice Chancellor Professor Albert Mellam addressing UPNG Medical students at Taurama Campus.
 

UPNG Vice Chancellor, Professor Albert Mellam has strongly advised students to return to classes tomorrow, Monday.

Professor Mellam when addressing Medical students at Taurama campus on Friday reiterated that the boycott and forums are illegal as proper procedures where not followed.

He said while the administration understands the rights of the students to exercise their civil rights on issues they feel strongly about, their purpose at the university must also be considered.

 “The continuous boycott of classes by students is illegal. I say illegal because I draw that reference from the SRC constitution where the provisions that guides how boycott of classes are done. That’s the specific reference. The senate has looked at the boycott of classes; the senate has looked at the issues that you have raised,” He said.

Professor Mellam explained that the academic senate presides over the academic issues of the institution it is only concerned with the academic affairs of the institution.

He said as chancellor, intending forums are authorized by him but was not the case for the forums that took place after the first Monday of the boycott when the first forum was held.

“In the case of the forum, a letter was written by the SRC to the Vice Chancellor to have a forum to discuss internal issues and external issues which the VC authorised.  But the second forum held after the first Monday of the illegal boycott week. There were two letters received by the vice chancellor, one of those made reference to suspension of classes on Monday (May 2^nd 2016), the second one made reference to suspension of academic activities indefinitely. The Vice Chancellor has no authority or what so ever to authorise suspension of classes or suspension of academic activities indefinitely.

“Both matters were escalated to senate and senate preceded over that space whist the students decided amongst themselves to boycott classes since two weeks ago Monday, inclusive of today (Friday, 13^th May). On that basis, I did not authorise any forum so any forum that was held since after that Monday is illegal under the rules of engagement,” He said.

Mellam told the students that the SRC letter to Registrar or the University to seek the university’s assistance to bring in the Prime Minister, The Police Commissioner or their representatives was made clear in their letter.

“The University took it in good faith and took it over to the government, had a conversation with government and left it there. Government’s decision to come and receive the petition and address the forum was based on the letter from the SRC which never happened. But whist I have the opportunity, let me disclose that the Minister for Office of Higher Education Research Science and Technology has agreed to come again next week (tomorrow, Monday onwards) to receive the petition from the students.

“It might happen in Medical school campus, I don’t know, but he has conveyed his good will to receive that petition.

“One thing is clear; the minister will not go to the forum square of the University of Papua New Guinea to receive that petition. That opportunity has gone.”