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Daru parents worry over
law and order
By ALISON ANIS
CONCERNED parents and residents of Daru,
Western province, fear that the election process on the island may “go
out of hand” because of the current law and order situation on the
island.
Mallah Bani, a deputy clerk of court with the magisterial services in
Daru, said the polling period would not be safe with the absence of the
law and justice in town.
Peaceful Daru town has come under siege with a spate of crimes such as
break-and-enters, thefts and physical assault in public places over the
past three weeks as a result of offenders being set free due to closure
of police cells and the local jail.
Mrs Bani, who spoke as a parent and a concerned citizen, told The
National last week that there was great fear among residents over
security during the polling period.
“Most of our policemen who are supposed to provide security at this time
will soon be deployed to other parts of the country when the national
election starts in two weeks time,” she said.
“This leaves us parents and residents of Daru with no guarantee to say
that polling here will be peaceful.”
Mrs Bani was among a group of concerned parents who wrote to provincial
administrator Nelson Hungrabos last week petitioning him to restore law
and order on the island before polling commenced on June 30.
She stressed the need for increased presence of police security in Daru
on polling days as candidates and supporters could easily take advantage
of the situation to intimidate and force voters to vote against their
will.
The National made five calls and left two messages with Daru police
commander John Kerry last Friday but to no avail.
Mr Kerry reportedly rounded up his men last week to march through Daru
town to inform the public of their operations during the election
period.
Attempts to get provincial administrator Mr Hungrabos to respond to
queries by teachers and parents of students attending Daru Secondary
School were also unsuccessful.
 
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