Goroka crowd raids shops, damages ATMs

Today (Yesterday) Papindo supermarket and Digicel shop in Goroka have been looted and some BSP ATMs have been vandalised by opportunists, says Eastern Highlands provincial police
commander Supt Michael Welly.
He expressed anger and frustration over the actions of the police in Port Moresby, putting them (EHP police and other centres) in dire straits of having to not only deal with rioting and looting but also with losing face with the public.
An eyewitness, Nathan Akeke said: “Initially, police could not control looters trying to break into shops, that’s when community leaders and villagers stepped in to help the police control the situation.
“Whoever wants to misbehave will have to leave my town, and, follow in my footsteps and treat my home with respect,” said a local community leader, Jeffery Sasuwo from Asaroiufa in Goroka.
Using the loudhailer equipment of a police vehicle, Sasuwo stood with the police in Goroka town and addressed the crowd of people who gathered near the shops in attempts to continue looting.
Sasuwo said that there will be no toleration of looting and damaging of properties in Goroka town and heavy penalties will be imposed against those responsible.
Supt Welly said the Mobile Squad 14 and more than 20 Correctional Service units from Bihute carried out awareness that all business houses will be closed for the next couple of days.
“Goroka town is in lock-down, and an assessment will be made of the situation whether to resume normalcy or not by tomorrow (today), peace and security will prevail,” he said.