Engans want Ellis’ term extended

National, Normal
Source:

By JAMES APA GUMUNO

A big crowd staged a peaceful protest march supported by public servants in Wabag town last Friday and demanded that resident judge Justice Graham Ellis remains in the province.
The women who organised the protest march presented a six-page petition signed by 250 people from different walks of life to Justice Ellis and begged him to remain.
The petition was signed by representatives from different groups which included Catholic bishop Arnold Orawe, women’s representative Julie Yakas, Wendy Kilansa (women in business – Enga), Merolyn Daboyan (youth), Joycelyn Lakain (disabled people), Harold Lambu (SDA) Rose Kundal ( Christian Apostolic Fellowship women), Jacob Kilanda (community rep), Alwin Pai, public servants, pastors of different churches and the general public.
The protesters marched from Sagurap Catholic church to Wabag General Hospital and returned to town then to the National Court house where they gave speeches and presented their petition to court staff.
Justice Ellis was in Goroka and was not present to receive the petition but his staff received it on his behalf.
They staged the peaceful protest march after learning that Justice Ellis’ two year term had expired and would soon be leaving the province.
“Your presence is felt by every citizen in the province because we witnessed true justice without fear or favour and experienced peace since this year through the decisions you made at the National Court hearings,” the people said of Ellis in their petition.
They urged the judge to consider another term in Enga and continue the good work he was doing by upholding justice and righteousness for peace and good order in Enga.
Some of the big improvement they experienced included justice prevailing in the province through drop in violence and crimes, physical, verbal harassment and abuses in public, marijuana smoking and alcohol consumption in public.
Human rights were upheld, his decisions transformed the behaviour and attitudes of all Engans, rights of disadvantage and women upheld and many more according to the petition.
President of the Enga Christian Apostolic Fellowship Women Federation Rose Kundal said they had been praying for many years for peace and justice to prevail and the women and children felt that Ellis was their answer to their prayers.
The provincial police commander Supt Martin Lakari said the protest march was carried out peacefully.