Dua calls for peace and unity during recount

By ZACHERY PER
PEACE and unity is paramount to completing the current judicial recount for the Chimbu provincial seat, Governor Michael Dua says.
He said differences and tension would lead to fights that usually ended in destruction of properties, loss of lives and hindered freedom of movement.
“Fighting and tension will hamper peace and harmony and disrupt a successful completion of the recount that is in progress,” Dua said.
“I strongly appeal to my supporters from Chimbu not to create problems and tension.”
Dua told a peace reconciliation session between his Chimbu faction and the people of the Ungai area in Ungai-Bena district of Eastern Highlands where he gave K10,000 and two pigs to end a feud between them following a fight last Tuesday in Goroka.
A security guard from Night Owl Security Services (NOSS) was illegally searched on Tuesday night by Dua’s supporters and confiscated a licensed firearm used for security jobs and that led to a fight between the Chimbus and Ungais, where the security firm is based.
Team leader for the Chimbu group Paul Gagesungua said Chimbu and Eastern Highlands were like brothers until this unfortunate incident.
“It is very important to end this tension and restore normalcy between the people of Eastern Highlands and Chimbu, any damage and suffering on my part I will forgive and forget,” he said.
“Please do accept this small token I brought to compensate and say sorry for what happened,” Gagesungua told the Ungai peope.
Dua and his Chimbu group presented two pigs and K10,000 in cash to the Ungai people.
Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu and Sinasina-Yongumugl MP Kerenga Kua, who were present, called for unity and cooperation to allow a speedy recount of the ballots to enable normalcy to prevail.