All quiet in Mendi as schools, businesses open

By Gynnie Kero
Classes continued at Mendi schools yesterday indicating things were returning to normal in the Southern Highlands town.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said all was quiet and local leaders were travelling to Mendi today following Thursday’s arson attacks.
Government services and businesshouses in the provincial capital were operating normally but closing a bit early due to the 6pm-6am curfew.
A State of Emergency has been declared there for nine months.
National Broadcasting Corporation provincial radio director Dominic Yosi confirmed that all public servants were not at work after most of the offices were damaged in the civil unrest late last year and again on Thursday that saw a Link PNG plane set on fire as well as the courthouse complex, the governor’s house and the provincial administration building (Agiru Centre). The building is understood to be condemned.
O’Neill said: “Our Government is working with all relevant parties in the Southern Highlands to restore normalcy.
“We are working with provincial leaders and restoring calm and normalcy in Mendi and affected areas in Nipa.
“All districts are now resolving the issues with no further reports of unrest in the other three districts.
“I want to thank the police and the military for the work they have done on the ground to calm emotions and to prevent further unlawful actions.”
O’Neill clarified that the National Executive Council did not have the power to suspend provincial governments, only Parliament did.
Meanwhile, Western End police commander assistant commissioner Kaiglo Ambane said the build-up and use of guns in the province was a major threat to the people and security forces.
Ambane said that security forces, both police and Defence Force, who were present, were intimidated on several occasions on Thursday afternoon during burning incidences.
He said that people should not blame the security forces for not protecting state properties.