Bulolo business hit by ongoing tribal war

 SMALL businesses in Bulolo, Morobe are accumulating losses after an estimated three-quarters of the local consumers moved elsewhere to seek refuge in fear of their lives as a result of ongoing tribal fights.

Bulolo town interim business representative Aaron Akui said store and fuel station operators were unable to pay their staff as business dropped, caused by the increasing security problem in the area.

“About one-quarter of the consumers who stayed were the workforce at PNG Forest Product Ltd and a few public servants who could not generate enough business for the shops and fuel station to survive,” Akui said.

He said PNGFP also wound down its operation because most logs were cut along the Watut plain.

He said that in his experience as a long-time Bulolo residents, law and order problems had been an ongoing issue.

However, the peace and good order committee in Bulolo had never resolved any previous issues and that just allowed the problem to escalate.

“This requires government to sanction an independent investigation team to conduct in-depth inquiry into the core of the problems plaguing rival groups” Akui said.

He said the name “Wau-Bulolo” proved Papua New Guinea was linking with the outside world to bring modernisation into the country.

“But how come the Government neglecting the two townships by not setting up adequate police housing and manpower to contain law and order and instil confidence among the citizens, companies and investors?” Akui said.

He appealed to Morobe Governor Kelly Naru to create an independent investigation team to talk with rival Watuts and Warias instead of leaving the job to the local peace committee.

“Some of those peace committee members had also been involved in previous conflicts and if they were appointed to the current sub-committee, it would jeopardise the entire negotiation process.

“Almost four ethnic clashes related to law and order issues resulted in killings and destruction of properties, and yet no suspects had been detained for arson and murder.”

“We can talk about negotiating peace but negotiation in what manner and approach? We need to think about this properly,” Akui said.