ENB government presents K55,000 in peace ceremony

By ROSELYN ELLISON
A PEACE ceremony was staged in Kokopo on Tuesday with the East New Britain administration giving K55,000 as well as food stuff, pigs and traditional Tolai shell money (tabu) to the family of late Jonathan Kiap and the Highlands community.
The handing over of the food stuff, tabu shells and cash was to restore peace and harmony between the two parties after clashes over the weekend between Ulagunan people and Highlanders.
ENB law and order committee chairman and provincial administrator Wilson Matava said Kiap’s killing at Kokopo main market on Saturday was tragic and shocking.
He said the ensuing violence on Monday where three youths from Ulagunan were killed during an attack on the Kokopo Business College (KBC) was unnecessary.
He appealed to youths not to take advantage of the situation and commit other offences but to allow police to investigate the incident.
“After this peace ceremony, I want us all to work together to restore peace and harmony in our town,” he said.
“What we did today is to strengthen this relationship we have with our brothers and sisters from the Highlands.”
Kokopo MP Emil Tammur presented K30,000 to Kiap’s relatives.
Gazelle MP Jelta Wong, presented K10,000 and Governor Nakikus Konga presented another K10,000 while a local Baining leader from Pomio gave K5,000.
Tammur assured the Highlands community that there would be no more fights as his people from Ulagunan had accepted responsibility for the violence.
He urged the leaders to work together in addressing law and order issues in the province.
“The incident on Saturday is our lesson as leaders and we must work together to maintain law and order in our province,” he said.