Students flee Hagen college
By ELIAS LARI
CLASSES at the Holy Trinity Teachers College in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands province, were suspended yesterday following a violent confrontation between students and villagers last Sunday afternoon.
In a meeting held yesterday between police, college administration and the local community, the villagers demanded K900,000 from the college for damages done to their homes and properties as a result of the fight.
The fight on Sunday was a follow-up from last Friday’s clash in which locals stormed the college and assaulted and injured the principal, James Wia, and two male students. The Friday incident happened at about 2pm when villagers, believed to be supporters of council candidates, demanded the students to leave their classes and join voting for the Holy Trinity ward in the LLG elections.
On Sunday, a peace mediation between the two groups turned sour when the students and locals fought again.
Three villagers were seriously injured and properties belonging to the people residing near the college were destroyed.
More than 100 students have fled the college in fear for their lives while students from other provinces have sought refuge with wantoks in the city. A peace meeting yesterday was attended by Catholic Church Archbishop Douglas Young, who is the chairman of the college governing council, Father Garry Roach, council member, PPC Western Highlands Chief Supt Thomas Eluh and other leaders.
The locals demanded that the K900,000 compensation be paid within seven days.
Archbishop Young said that the college is a Catholic-run institution and there should be no violence.
He said that the church philosophy does not tolerate violence as a means to settle conflicts.
He said the college produces 125 teachers a year and is well reorganised in the country.
Archbishop Young condemned the actions taken by the students.
Supt Eluh said the clash between the two groups had brought shame to the community and the province.
Meanwhile, the Holy Trinity students representative council had called on students not to leave the premises.
Council president Philip Kondum said: “We are taught to handle pen and paper, and not to fight.”
Second-year students were scheduled to start their block teaching for three weeks starting this week.
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