Allocated burial site of late Sir Zibang disputed

A DISAGREEMENT between two ethnic factions of the Gagidu clan in Finschhafen district of Morobe province delayed the burial of businessman and former parliamentarian Sir Zibang Zurenuoc for almost six hours on Monday.
The disagreement lasted from Thursday when the body of the late Sir Zibang was flown from Port Moresby, until Monday, at the time of the burial in front of the Finschhafen district headquarters.
Morobean leaders including Morobe Governor Luther Wenge, Defence Minister and Kabwum MP Bob Dadae, Deputy Opposition leader and Lae MP Bart Philemon and Tewae Siassi MP Vincent Michaels, who all turned up to witness the burial, were forced to leave in the middle of a service at the Bethlehem Lutheran church because they were running late for departure on a charted aircraft and a boat.
The tussle erupted after a faction of the clan disputed the burial site allotted by the district administration on State land in front of the Finschhafen district office.
The other faction, who supported the district administration, said Sir Zibang was a statesman and deserved to be buried on State land.
The first faction argued that the State land should be preserved for later extension and developments of the district, adding that it would take up space if it was to be used as a State burial site.
However, Governor Wenge, who addressed mourners during the burial service, urged both parties to respect the leader and agree upon the burial site.