Cops run riot in city market

 By ELIZABETH MIAE

ANGRY policemen descended on vendors at the popular Malaoro market in Port Moresby and sent vendors abandoning their wares and fleeing for their lives, eyewitnesses told The National.

Market stalls were burnt to the ground and the market is now closed.

Witnesses said police were incensed when a drunk in the crowd flung an empty beer bottle at a passing police vehicle, causing the windscreen to crack.

Fresh vegetables, fruits, merchandise, ven­ding tables, plastic bags and containers were burnt by police officers.

Peter Manu, a vendor from Southern Highlands, said a group of men had been drinking at the back of the supermarket when they saw the police vehicle pass by on Wednesday.

He said one of them ran after the vehicle and threw the bottle which landed on the windscreen. 

He fled from the area immediately.

Manu said the officers got out of the vehicle and ordered the vendors to identify and hand over the culprit.

He said when they did not get a satisfactory response, the police returned to the station. 

At about 6.30pm, the officers returned in five vehicles and destroyed everything at the market.

Ronny Paka, a vendor from Enga, said: “They burnt our things and even took away our bags and money. 

“They came back this morning (yesterday) between six and seven o’clock and fired shots into the air.”

Paka said bystanders and vendors were terrified and rushed into PMV buses to get away from the area.

Helen Farapo, a vendor from Gulf, lost a bag of kaukau worth K130 and a bag of potato worth K250. 

National Capital District metropolitan commander Andy Bawa said the police officers had gone there to arrest a drunkard at the market who retaliated and broke the windscreen of the vehicle.

He said the market would be closed until the man was arrested.

When asked if the officers were involved in damaging the vendors’ belongings, he said they had told the vendors to surrender the suspect.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop said he was not aware of the incident but he would send his officers to check.

“It is unfortunate and the actions of police are unacceptable,” Parkop said.

Just metres from the market is the Malaoro Service Station which was closed for a few days last year after soldiers raided it. 

An internal report into the incident has yet to be made public.