Gang attacks mine workers

 By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK

Five armed youths sustained injuries and ended up in hospital when they attacked Chinese construction workers in a surprise night raid near Panguna Mine in  Bougainville last Thursday.

Arawa police station commander Januaries Vosivai said the youths armed with a gun and knives from North Nausori area in Kieta district went to Panguna in a vehicle and attacked the Chinese between 10pm and 1am. 

But the local security guards fought with them and inflicted injuries to them.

“We were alerted and went over and rescued the injured youths,” Vosivai told The National yesterday.

He said that one of the youths was a former employee with the joint local company and Chinese company which was doing construction work along the Jaba River. 

“The youth was terminated and is believed to be aggrieved with his finish pay,” he said.

“So he mobilised his friends to attack his former employer, resulting in all of them receiving injuries.

 “Two have been discharged while the rest are still in hospital. 

The relatives of the youths are now demanding compensation from the former employer for inflicting injuries on the youths.” 

Meanwhile, Vosivai is now appealing to the people in Central Bougainville to seek police assistance to resolve dispute and not to take the law into their own hands.