Driver was forced, says manager

National

By BOURA GORUKILA
A COMPANY has denied that it provided transport for those allegedly involved in killings along the Hiritano Highway last week.
Galley Reach Holding Ltd estate manager Subramaniam Velupillai told The National that the company truck driver was held up when it was returning to Goilala in Central from Port Moresby with the company mechanic.
“They held up the vehicle, pulled the mechanic out and demanded that the driver take them to where the roadblock was set up,” he said.
“However along the way, they held up another construction company vehicle (involved in roadworks) and (transferred) to it, abandoning our company vehicle with the driver. We never got involved.”
On Wednesday night, there was heavy downpour, the road was flood in second Martens so locals were guiding transport.
“A commotion happened at around 8pm and 9pm.
“The locals and some passengers on a PMV bus had an argument before the bus left for Port Moresby.
“Along the way, they met a Goilala couple walking beside the road and they killed the Goilala man.
“We do not know how they killed him and the bus took off.
“Someone tipped off the police in Port Moresby and they caught the bus but the passengers had already fled.
“The driver is now cooperating with the police, trying to identify the person who killed the Goilala man.
“The next morning, the relatives of the deceased, about 60 men stopped a white truck carrying fuel drums from Port Moresby, bound for Kerema.
“They stopped the vehicle, threatened the driver and they got on.
“On the way they saw a Dekenai Construction tipper. The two trucks pulled up in front of a primary school.
“The Goilala’s had their faces painted. The teachers and priests noticed and locked the school gate.
“They stopped a Mekeo PMV passing the school and searched it.
“The two vehicles dropped them near the roadblock area where they hid in the rubber block.
“There were six or seven buses owned by Highlanders waiting at the roadblock site.”
“The Goilalas ran towards the buses, while the buses turned and headed to Agevairu.
“They stoned the buses while some passengers that went off the bus chased after the bus. While they were running three men were chopped and killed.”
Lun Kara, from Mendi and Gabadi in Central , the transport and logistics officer of the company, said he was on his way to the plantation when the fight broke out.
“I was driving a smaller bus, when the highlanders ran after the buses in fear of their lives,” Kara said.
“I rescued about eight of them.”