By PETER PIA
WABAG town, the capital of Enga, came to stand still on Monday as Engans paid special respect to their residential judge the late Justice Moses Jalina.
The body of late Justice Jalina was flown from Port Moresby to Mt Hagen on Sunday before his body was transported to Wabag on Monday for a public funeral service.
The funeral service was organised by the Enga provincial government and was attended by a huge crowd, which include acting Chief Judge Justice Sir Salamo Injia with eight National and Supreme Court judges, magistrates, judiciary staff and Parliamentarians from the province.
Engans, who reside along the highway from the border of Enga and Western Highlands provinces, sat anxiously mourning on the roadside as the body was transported to Wabag in a convoy of vehicles.
It was estimated that more than 10,000 people joined in with the dignitaries in Wabag town to mourn.
Majority of the people painted their faces with mud and sat for the whole day as the town was completely silent and empty without the usual activities.
It was also the first time that all business houses, Government offices, markets and other usual activities completely shut down for the day in respect of the late judge.
Some of the biggest business houses like Wabag branch Bank South Pacific, Post PNG, Air Niugini, Kumul Clothing and other Asians and locally-owned outlets closed their doors as early as 8:30am and opened at about 3:30pm after the funeral service.
Sir Injia, on behalf of the judiciary and the Government, officially handed over the body to Enga Governor Peter Ipatas for the funeral service.
The day proceeded with combined Correctional Services and police guard of honour.
Many were moved when Mr Ipatas, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Abal and provincial administrator Dr Samson Amean shed tears publicly.
Mr Ipatas later presented a K50,000 cheque from the Enga provincial government while mourners contributed K14,442.20 along with food stuff to the families of late Justice Jalina to show the Engans’ custom of mourning.
Mr Ipatas officially opened the funeral service and after the service, handed back the body on behalf of people of Enga to Sir Injia for the body to be overnight at his Premier Hill resident before it was flown back to Port Moresby on Christmas eve.