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Papua families thrown out of 8 Mile homes
Parkop wants refugees to stay until new resettlement
area is found
NCD Governor Powes Parkop has urged the
West Papuan refugees at 8 Mile settlement now facing eviction to remain
until the court has ruled on their case and a new resettlement area has
been found for them.
Mr Parkop told The National he could not allow the West Papuans to be
forced out onto the streets with their families and belongings.
He further confirmed that police raided the homes of the West Papuans
and hacked down their banana trees last Saturday.
The West Papuans were allegedly uprooted from their settlement homes
last Saturday by former politician Sir Peter Lus with help of a group of
policemen from the McGregor Unit, who wrecked their homes using a
bulldozer.
The culprits also chopped down their banana garden.
Helen Hou told The National her people, numbering about 400, were
ordered to pack their belongings and pile them outside their homes as
they were going to be evicted after 3pm last Saturday.
But she said one of them went to Mr Parkop’s resident to ask for
assistance in stopping their eviction.
She said the governor responded immediately by personally going to 8
Mile and advised the people to remain there until further advice.
Ms Hou said some settlers including herself and her family had listened
to Mr Parkop’s advice and remained at 8 Mile while another group left to
camp out near the UNHCR Office at Ela Beach.
The West Papuans asked to be deported to a third country.
Those who camped outside UNHCR, remained there last night but were
unable to meet with the UNHCR representatives in PNG.
The group was composed of about 30 men, women and children although they
earlier claimed to have numbered to at least 200.
An official from the UNHCR office here told The National the UNHCR PNG
office could not comment on the issue and referred us to UNHCR Canberra
for comment.
Deputy Prime Minister Dr Puka Temu, who is also charge of Lands, said
yesterday he was unable to comment as he was not officially briefed on
the issues.
Freddy Vawomi, who claimed to be speaking for the group camped at Ela
Beach, said they would remain outside the UNHCR office at Ela Beach
until they receive a response from UNHCR.
They claimed those who have remained at 8 Mile were keen to negotiate
for a return to the Papuan province of Indonesia.
The other group is pro-independence who wanted to be deported to a third
country.
 
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