Call to honour ruling

By JIMMY KALEBE
Displaced settlers of Sialum in Tewai-Siassi, Morobe, have called on the Morobe government to honour the National Court decision of Feb 12.
The court decision handed down by deputy chief judge Justice Ambeng Kandakasi ordered that the Morobe government revisit the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the settlers and the provincial government.
The court also ordered that the settlers be reinstated back at Boundary Road sections 290, 311 and 312.
It was revealed that some evicted settlers had titles to portions of land at the location.
It has been four months since the court decision and settlers are currently residing at state hill in makeshift homes.
The settlers moved to state hill after their homes and properties were destroyed almost five years ago on Oct 15, 2015.
Sialum displaced community chairman Yufamu Nelly, in a meeting last Sunday, said the MOU was signed in April 2018 for the Morobe government through the provincial disaster office to provide building materials for the displaced settlers.
“We waited for that to happen under the MOU but nothing happened so we have to take the matter to court and the court has again come out with the decision on that,” he said.
Nelly said while residing at state hill, an eviction notice was taken against them in July 2018, but, they stayed it through a court order restraining their eviction.
He said after the court decision, the settlers have not received any notification from the provincial government and the delay has caused them inconvenience.
“We need to go back to the place where we have been residing for many years at Boundary Road,” he said. “Responsible authorities please attend to our situation and settle it once and for all.” Attempts to get comment from Governor Ginson Saonu was unsuccessful.