Another protest march in Madang

ANOTHER peaceful march is being organised by the provincial council of women and civil society organisations to take place in Madang today.
The march is also to press the provincial government to address the law and order issues affecting the province.
However, as the protest march is allowed to proceed, all Asian-run businesses are expected to close shop as a precaution against possible threats and riot, according to reports received.
There are speculations in town that several unidentified sources had been issuing threats to Asian-owned businesses to stop and move out.
Today’s protest march is the third organised by different groups this year  to petition the provincial government to address the law and order issues affecting the province.
The first march was organised by the Divine Word University early this year, the second was on Monday led by women groups and business houses.
Today’s march will be led by the civil society and the provincial council of women.
Madang civil society forum chairman, John Thomas said yesterday that although there was a protest staged earlier this week, they still planned to go on with the protest march to the provincial government to officially present their petition.
Mr Thomas said  the protest march on Monday was politically motivated but today’s march was for the grassroots mothers and girls and church groups.
However, police, led by provincial police station commander Senior Insp Steven Kaipa, told the public in town that the police would not allow any protest march but they could only deliver the petition to the authorities.