Motu

• Prime Minister James Marape declared a state of emergency as shops were set on fire and citizens shot.
• Whatever the reason, public servants, crucially including the beleaguered police force, promptly went on strike and abandoned their posts, leading to the violence and looting.
• Whether Marape’s or the political opposition’s explanation is plausible is perhaps less important than trying to understand the underlying causes of such apparently spontaneous violence.
• Prior to European contact, a total of about 2,000 Motu and Koita villagers lived in the Port Moresby area.
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• We also know most of its residents are as shocked and appalled by the violence as we are.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.