By JASON SOM KAUT
FOUR fully armed mobile police officers have been deployed to Salamaua in the Morobe province following prolonged fighting between youths of two neighbouring villages.
One rural police officer was already on the ground after the fight began last Friday.
So far, 15 houses, including a permanent house, have been burnt and one youth shot with an arrow.
The four, attached with the Bulolo-based MS 15, left yesterday with village leaders to Salus and Lababia villages to assess the situation.
Morobe provincial police commander Chief Insp Agustine Wampe yesterday confirmed deploying the four policemen to the area to assess the situation and apprehend those involved and ensure safety and normalcy in the area.
Some of the youths were said to be in possession of factory-made and home-made guns.
Initial unconfirmed reports from councillors, community leaders and eyewitnesses said youths involved in the fight were harassing villagers and threatening Government workers, including the Salamaua district manager and a doctor, who had gone to check the safety of a female health worker.
Huon district administrator Tony Ase said the 15 houses including and the permanent house belonging to Lababia villagers had been torched by Salus youths.
Thirteen were burnt last week and two last Monday.
The incident had raised concerns of breakdown in moral values with Mr Wampe urging for respect of government workers and others.
Mr Ase said reports from community leaders had revealed that the fight started when youths from Salus retaliated and chased mothers from Lababia and torched houses after youths from Lababia allegedly damaged a canoe and destroyed a fishing net belonging to Salus villagers
The Salus youths had been fishing within Lababia waters on the Lababia side of the Bitoi River which separates the two villages when the incident occurred.
Salus villagers initially resided in the mountains of Salamaua known as the Kaiwa area but resettled to the beach during colonial administration days after colonial administrators got permission from Lababia leaders.
This was to make patrols easier for early patrol officers. The move had over the years created tension between the two villages.
Salamaua is one of three districts in the Huon District, the other two are Morobe and Wampar districts.