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More claims lodged
By PETER MIVA
MORE supporting documents were filed in the
National Court in Lae yesterday by villagers from Watarais, Kaiapit
district, who are seeking damages claims against the police and the
State for alleged destruction to properties including houses, personal
items, food gardens and livestock by a police mobile unit from Goroka
during a raid in 1996.
The trial is into its second week, and yesterday Justice George Manuhu
instructed lawyers to ensure affidavits submitted were accompanied by
vital materials to support the claims.
Justice Manuhu said affidavits must be genuine as he would base his
decision on the materials presented to him in court at the end of the
trial.
He said this after lawyer representing the State Peter Kuman from Posman
Kua Lawyers found that one of the plaintiffs, Joe Yagasai, from Marasawa
village, had claimed damages for a vehicle worth K20,000 in his
affidavit but this was not stated in his original writ of summons.
When Mr Kuman asked if he did put a claim for the vehicle in the writ of
summons, the plaintiff said he did.
Mr Yagasai was among a group of villagers from Marasawa who appeared
before Justice Manuhu yesterday morning and submitted their affidavits
as evidence.
This was followed by over 20 Ragitzaria villagers who also tendered
their sworn affidavits before Justice Manuhu.
A few whose names were called out did not show up but the court opted to
deal with those plaintiffs who were present as the judge did not want
any delay caused by their absence.
Justice Manuhu said the case involved a large number of plaintiffs and
it was important that lawyers ensure the plaintiffs are genuine in their
affidavits.
The plaintiffs who appeared yesterday and last week are among over 800
villagers from the 18 Watarais villages from the Kaiapit district in the
Markham Valley claiming damages from a police raid in 1996.
It is alleged that police mobile squad unit members from Goroka, Eastern
Highlands province, raided the 18 villages and burnt down houses, looted
property, slaughtered cows, pigs and chickens and committed other forms
of human rights abuses during the raid.
The case continues today.
 
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