Enough, say Morobeans

 By PISAI GUMAR

MOROBEANS have threatened to shut down government and business operations in Lae city and the province for one week if the government fails to address their grievances on law and order issues.

Their leaders say that Morobeans, who have always considered themselves to be peaceful, law-abiding and God-fearing people, can no longer tolerate the violence and other illegal activities caused by people from other provinces.

They say they are particularly incensed by the recent brutal killing of seminary student Kewa Michael from the Kabwum district. 

Michael is alleged to have been killed by some men from Western Highlands.

In a protest at Bumayong market on the outskirts of the city yesterday, protesters called on the provincial government to respond to their demands, which included the eviction of all Western Highlands people living in Lae within 14 days.

Nawaeb law and order chairman Pesa Takos told the protesters: “If people without respect, kill an innocent pastor, a servant of God, what’s the reason to allow them to live among peaceful Morobeans.”

They called on the government to provide 100 PMV buses to Morobeans, evict and replace all Western Highlanders’ PMV buses operating in Lae city, address grievances being raised related to the killing of five youths during unrest in Nov 5, 2011 and appoint a permanent provincial administrator.

Nearly 2,000 protesters marched to the provincial headquarters and petitioned Deputy Governor Morokoi Gaiwata, provincial law and order chairman Peter Namus and police commander Supt Iven Lakatani.

Among them were LLG presidents  Daki Mao (Umi-Atzera), Jack Kahu (Labuta) and Sam Agi (Ahi), as well as community policing coordinator Peter Gorek.

Takos said Morobeans had reached the end of their tether   and “enough is enough”.

“The only hope we have is to evict Western Highlanders and that’s final; Morobeans will never appreciate any compensation for the killing of Michael as it is not our cultural practice and not aligned with the constitution of the country,” he said.

“All we humbly request is the eviction of Western Highlanders from Lae city; it’s not only Morobeans that are affected, other people residing in Lae are also affected.”

Kabwum association chairman Steven Boipe said  Michael’s death had brought to 50 the number of Kabwum people allegedly killed by Western Highlanders in Lae. 

“Our Kabwum forefathers became evangelists and walked as far as Raipinga, Banz and Ogelbeng to spread the gospel and clothe the Western Highlanders, but you never respected me. I take my clothes off from calling you (Western Highlanders) as a brother and now evict you from Morobe to go back to your home land,” he said.

Gaiwata said a provincial executive meeting would be convened today to deliberate over the petition.

Lakatani said he was overwhelmed by the peaceful protest and reminded people to be responsible citizens “as law and order is everybody’s business”.