Sifting through the rubble of her store in Port Moresby’s south, Behori Joku is still in a complete state of shock.
“[We’ve] lost everything that we worked for,” she said.
“I tried to be an example to other indigenous people in my city … now it’s all gone and I really don’t know how to rebuild.”
On Wednesday afternoon her shop, like so many others right across the city, was looted and set on fire.
What began as a police protest and strike set the stage for the dramatic unrest, which killed at least 15 people in the capital as thousands rioted.
As events began unfolding, Ms Joku said she helplessly watched on from her verandah and tried to contact police, before contacting her local MP.
“He responded immediately but he told me that police were not responding to his calls,” she said.
“There was nothing we could do on that day.
“We could see people coming out with the loot, cartons of beer, alcohol, everything.
“It was terrible, just watching people that we know in the community, just gone mad.”
Ms Joku has a stake in the store next door, where it’s understood two local teenagers were shot and killed during the looting.
Three bodies were found in the burnt out wreckage later in the week, with police called in to keep peace in the area.
Thirty others were treated in hospital for gunshot wounds, with several people severely burned.
‘Fragile’ state of emergency in place
A 14-day state of emergency is in effect in Port Moresby, with rules imposing restrictions on the movement of gatherings, and provisions for greater police search powers.
More than 800 police officers, as well as 120 defence personnel are in Port Moresby, overseeing a fragile sense of calm.
For their operation, police are using the codename Take Back Port Moresby City.
Many are working with volunteers, methodically going through the north-western suburb of Gerehu to recover the enormous amount of retail household goods that were stolen from a warehouse.
“Everybody in Gerehu, even in the settlements, there’s no doubt that everybody was involved,” Metropolitan Superintendent Silva Sika said.
“We’re trying to recover and restore confidence and peace back.”
But it’s the police themselves that will also be the subject of an official investigation.
Prime Minister James Marape has decried what he described as a “rogue element of our police force”, who assisted looters and arsonists.
The outcome of the investigation will be keenly anticipated, with Mr Marape claiming some of the unrest was “organised” and that he wanted to look deeper at “political influence on the side”.
It’s a claim now echoed by National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop.
“There should be a proper investigation to inquire as to how and who and why this event on the 10th happened,” Governor Parkop said.
“I don’t think looking at everything, that it’s a random thing, or spontaneous thing.
“Definitely the evidence shows that there’s elements of organisation planning, directing, inciting.”
“It’s a concern for me, that if we gloss things over, we don’t solve the problem … I don’t want Port Moresby to ever have this day again.”
Former PNG prime minister Peter O’Neil has told 7.30 he disputes the claim.
“(Marape) has got to produce evidence that there was some political influence over it,” he said.
“You’re talking about hundreds of thousands of people, one can imagine how one can organise that kind of looting and violence for political purposes.”
“I think it’s ludicrous and the prime minister is just passing blame so he can justify his incompetence.”
Young, poor and angry youth in revolt
“It’s not a silver bullet that will solve everything,” he said.
“But we want to make it as a tool that’s available.”
Many on the streets of Port Moresby feel the intent of much of the rioting was clear.
A local community representative 7.30 spoke to said young men acted out of desperation.
“The reason why these youths reacted in anger is because the youths don’t have employment,” Danny Tiki said.
“Some are surviving on only rice, no protein or tin fish, the prices have increased.
“The government should know why the youths reacted the way they did, it is because of the economic situation.”
For stores that face enormous losses and large construction bills, the widespread arson was incomprehensible.
Desh Besh Enterprise Limited has several stores in Port Moresby, including a large logistics yard.
Their stores were ransacked and the container yard was raided and set alight.
“We have around 200 containers here and they looted everything,” operations manager Mohammad Chan Miah said.
He’s part of a growing chorus of business owners calling for government support, which is being considered by Mr Marape’s government.
“We don’t have any financial backup right now, all our backup was the food, our goods, but it’s all been looted.
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