Come up with safety plans: Cop

LAE police have not ruled out prolonging the closure of Bumbu 13A market to ensure the safety of vendors and other market users.
Lae Met Supt Chris Kunyanban said police had instructed the market committee members to come up with plans to address the fighting which took place there last week.
The fighting between people from Morobe, Sepik and Southern Highlands had seen the market closed for an indefinite period.
The 13A market, which serves people at Top Town, Stadium, Voco Point, Bumbu and Butibam, had experienced several closures because of fighting.
“The police closed the market after the fighting and asked the market committee to draw up plans and come up with bylaws that will govern both the vendors and buyers,” Chief Supt Kunyanban said.
He said police had agreed to let the market re-open.
“When I asked for the market to close, it does not mean that it will totally stop but to make sure there are rules and regulations in place and that people’s safety is guaranteed.”
The market is one of the main betel nut trading locations in the city with sellers and buyers from Sepik, Madang, the Highlands, Morobe and Northern doing business there.
Chief Supt Kunyanban said China Town police would take charge of the market to make sure that it opens for business.
He said those involved in the fighting had to settle their issues among themselves while the market re-opened.
Chief Supt Kunyanban appealed to the users (sellers and buyers) of the market to respect each other.