West Papuans move location, yet again
By HARLYNE JOKU
WEST Papuans camping at the Apex oval in Port Moresby were evicted at midday yesterday for the fifth time in the last nine months to Rainbow Village, Gerehu, to the premises of PNG Trust Inc, a non-governmental organisation.
Human rights activist Tony Fofoe, who witnessed the event, said officers from the National Capital District Commission and Governor Powes Parkop’s office executed the eviction.“They said Mr Parkop had ordered the eviction and showed a letter to prove this,” Mr Fofoe said.He said a contingent of security guards and police told the group that they were illegally residing on an NCD public park and had to move out.
Seven trucks were used to move the 150-odd refugees and their belongings to Rainbow.
Late yesterday afternoon, the group was erecting makeshift tents and attempting to settle in.Head of PNG Trust Inc Vincent Manukayasi, who holds the title of the property, said he was not advised of the surprised eviction of the West Papuans to his property.
But he said he had no problems in accepting them on humanitarian grounds.
Mr Manukayasi said he would accommodate them temporarily until relevant authorities have met with them.His only concern, he said, was not having adequate water supply, power utilities and proper toilets and showers for them.He added the group lacked food rations.“They are basically scavenging for food,” Mr Manukayasi said.
Spokesperson for the group Nico Kafiar said the refugees had been waiting for the past two months for some dialogue with officers from the Department of Inter-Governmental Relations since they were moved from the back of the Boroko police station to Apex oval.Mr Kafiar said his group still wanted to be resettled to a third country and were waiting for a meeting with UNHCR representative Richard Towle in Canberra, who had assured to meet with them in the next two days.
Mr Parkop could not be reached for comments.
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