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By AUGUSTINE KINNA
THE Bougainville freedom fighters (BFF) in Buin, South Bougainville,
have been reported to have snatched two government vehicles from the
Buin district executive manager last weekend.
Sources said the incident took place in the early hours of last Saturday
when armed BFF members confronted the home of district executive manager
John Itanu and demanded the vehicles to be handed over to them.
The vehicles included a Toyota Landcruiser 76 series, which was only
three weeks old, and a Toyata Hilux double cab both belonging to the
government.
It has been reported that the landcruiser was dumped and smashed into
pieces last Sunday.
The sources said solar panels belonging to the district office were also
stolen.
They said after the incident in Buin, the BFF travelled to the border
area of Siwai and Buin in Wamai, where they chopped two trees and set up
a roadblock.
The sources said people were confused and could not understand why they
(BFF) had to rearm, snatch the vehicles and conduct illegal check
points.
They revealed that at the moment, the BFF were manning the roadblock and
were not letting anyone through.
The chiefs and police in Buin were frustrated over their behaviour but
could not do anything because the majority of the BFF members were fully
armed, they said.
Meanwhile, police in Buin have confirmed the incident and said they were
working around the clock to rectify the situation.
“The police and the chiefs are doing their best to create a dialogue
with the BFF to negotiate the matter through peaceful means,” an officer
said.
He said the situation in the area had grown tense but appealed to the
people to remain calm and cooperate with the authorities on the ground.
 
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