Chimbus protest sidelining

 By ZACHERY PER

CHIMBU people plan to protest against the suspension of national planning secretary Dr Peter Ga’allah Kora who is from the province.

They have formed a working committee headed by former Chimbu governor Peter Launa and will stage a peaceful protest march in Kundiawa today.

They will hand over a petition to Governor Noah Kool to pass on to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill calling for the immediate reinstatement of Kora.

The people are concerned that Chimbus had been the subject of suspensions or sackings. 

Among them are agriculture secretary Anton Benjamin, education secretary Dr Musawe Sinebare, Motor Vehicle Insurance Ltd director Dr John Mua, chairman of MVIL Bonny Igime and now Dr Kora.

“We consider the suspension as a slap in the face and would like Dr Kora to be reinstated immediately. We also want other department heads from the province who were removed to be re-considered or deployed in other senior positions in government,” Launa said.

Launa claimed O’Neill was made Prime Minister by Chimbus through former Speaker Jeffery Nape. 

He also said Kora played an instrumental role in the formation of the previous O’Neill-Namah regime in 2011.

“The unceremonious suspension of Dr Kora as national planning secretary is a slap in the face of the people of Chimbu. We are gravely concerned and are demanding that O’Neill immediately reinstate him,” Launa said.

The committee members conducted awareness over the weekend. It is expected that a good number of Chimbus will turn up in Kundiawa today.