Army orders daughters off premises

By JUNIOR UKAHA
A ROW between neighbours in a military barracks over flowers had led to the eviction of an ex-soldier’s daughters.
The family of ex-warrant officer, Sylvester Meta, 70, from Movehave village in Gulf, have been told to vacate an army house at Murray Barracks by today, or they will be forced out.
An eviction notice delivered to the Metas on Oct 20, and signed by the area commander, Lt-Col Benoma Siria, said: “Upon receipt of this letter, your daughters, namely Monica and Solange, have 21 days to find alternate accommodation outside of Murray Barracks and move out of MQ 207 type 2 (house).
“The administration will not tolerate undisciplined and life-threatening behaviours of your adult married dependents against other members or dependents in the community.”
Solange, 40, Meta’s eldest daughter, claimed the daughter of their neighbour, Sgt John Nongi, of West New Britain, had ruined some flower plants her younger sister had planted. She said her sister got angry and scorned the girl, Odilia, resulting in a row.
Meta, who served in the army for 38 years, including engaging in operations during the Bougainville crisis and Vanuatu, said he was willing to go if the defence force paid all his entitlements.
He claimed the action of the commanding officer had breached a court order by the National Court staying the removal of all former colonial servicemen from the barracks who had yet to receive their entitlements from the state.
The order (WS 383 of 2001),issued by the court on May 18, 2001, among other things, instructed that: “Until further order, the defendants (PNGDF), their servants, agents, or whoever otherwise be restrained from evicting and repatriating the plaintiffs from their present institutional locations and residences.”
The defence force management, however, clarified that the eviction notice was not meant for Meta but for his two grown-up married daughters.
The management said no adult married children of serving soldiers were permitted to live in the barracks with their parents for long periods as “it is illegal and against the area standing orders”