THERE are many in our community who sympathise with the plight of the West Papuans camped at the Boroko police station.
They have ended up at the NCD headquarters of the
RPNG Constabulary as a means of protecting themselves against any attacks from aggrieved clansmen of a senior PNG court magistrate allegedly killed by some of their number.
On the other hand, there is growing public concern for the embattled police who are tasked with administering Port Moresby’s biggest and busiest police station.
It is plainly wrong that close to 100 of these people have been squatting there for the past two months.
Now the Port Moresby police chief has said that the people responsible for the West Papuans should find alternative accommodation for them.
Supt Fred Yakasa has made the point that the police have legally completed their task of protecting the West Papuans.
Four of them face allegations of murdering Senior Magistrate Ivo Cappo and the case is now before the courts.
It is ridiculous that these people should be crammed into a tiny space between the police cells and the adjoining Telikom property.
In the long run, it may also prove dangerous; it is inappropriate to have a small community camped within the confines of the NCD police headquarters.
It is clearly wrong that our police, particularly in the capital, should be shackled with this extra burden. The public should be fully aware of the demanding task faced by the RPNG Constabulary, particularly in maintaining law and order in the capital during the Christmas festive season.
Which organisation accepts the final responsibility for these people?
Will they become as permanent a feature of the Port Moresby scene as the unfortunate Moroccan who spent almost a decade here before anyone was prepared to organise his travel to his home country?
It is right and proper that organisations such as the Ombudsman Commission should keep an eye on the West Papuans and ensure that they receive adequate support from the State. But where does that responsibility and support end?
Surely the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Port Moresby must play some role in the future of these people.
It is easy to forget that they were uprooted from a settlement they had created outside the capital.
True, they were squatting illegally on land clearly owned by a prominent Papua New Guinean, but many good citizens felt some concern for the speed and bluntness of their removal.
Then came the unexpected death of Mr Cappo and much resentment was understandably generated. All of these developments underline the need for Papua New Guinea to devise its own policy towards those self-described as refugees.
We continue to handle these cases on an ad hoc basis.
Sometimes so called aliens are slammed into jail or shuttled onto outgoing aircraft with unfeeling haste. On other occasions, we adopt these people and they become valued and integral parts of the community.
There is a clear attitude of defending PNG’s borders against all comers displayed in certain sections of the Government.
While nobody wishes to see our country flooded with unwanted foreigners, neither do we wish to be known as a heartless and aggressive people who turn a deaf ear to all and sundry who come knocking at our gates.
We need to remind ourselves that a previous PNG government had no difficulty in accepting Australia’s rejected aliens and setting up a facility in Manus that attracted almost universal condemnation.
Certain substantial benefits accrued to PNG as a result, yet that was an action many Papua New Guineans regarded as completely out of keeping with our reputation and our nature as a friendly South Pacific people.
The issue of the West Papuans must be solved as quickly as possible and by the right authorities.
This marooned group of almost 100 people cannot continue to live in the backyard of a police station and those responsible for their well-being and safety need to attack the problem with energy and determination.
At the same time we commend the Boroko-based officers, policemen and women for their efforts to cope with an impossible situation.
Their actions have not gone unnoticed by the public.