Basil gets tough on lawlessness

BULOLO MP Sam Basil might propose a policy to deny medical attention and treatment to those injured in fights and involved in murders.
Angered by another fight and murder in Wau, Mr Basil said: “Unruly behaviour is on the rise and I am looking into ways to curb it.
“I am thinking of having the Bulolo district joint district budget priorities planning committee to set a policy for health centres not to treat people injured in fights.
“The committee can also consider asking offenders and their families to pack up and leave their villages.”
A man was killed and three others were injured in a domestic quarrel in Wau and was believed to be among Finschhafen people of the Kunai Creek and Namel Kaindi settlements.
Meanwhile, the Watuts have given the Sepiks 72 hours to move out of all illegal settlements in Bulolo.
“If not, we will demolish their properties and remove them ourselves,” Watut clan leaders from Nauti, Minawa and Akikanda told the Bulolo district administration and police last Friday.
The police and the administration will step in today to resolve the customary land issue.
The Watuts claimed the Sepik compound at the water supply area must be completely demolished and all settlers evicted as “this compound is breeding criminals that are responsible for taking away the life of many Watuts, the people of Bulolo, the people of Morobe and other law abiding Papua New Guineans”.
The Watuts’ demand comes two weeks after one of their elders, Amos Kupa, was stabbed to death on New Year’s Eve in the compound.
Two men from Sangriwa village, Angoram in the East Sepik province, were arrested for the murder.
The Watuts also demanded the resignation of a prominent leader because “his brother was a prime suspect in the murder”.
They have threatened to take the law into their own hands if their demands were not met.
“We will move in and demolish the compound and occupy the land.
“The matters are not negotiable, so act now,” they said.