Goroka raids attract calls from overseas

By PETER ESILA
FIVE major businesses in Goroka were attacked last Thursday, with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry describing it as a “sad day in PNG’s history”.
Chamber president Chris Anders said Papindo (market branch), Phone House, Digicel Phone shop, Yida West Goroka and Brian Bell shop in Goroka were attacked by thugs.
At Papindo, he said almost all white goods, food and household items were taken.
Phone House lost more than 85 per cent of items to looters.
The Digicel phone shop was broken into and items taken.
In Yida West Goroka, the employees and manager fought back the intruders. It suffered only minor losses.
At Brian Bell, he said intruders attempted to steal items but were unsuccessful.
“These riots will go down as a sad day in PNG’s history,” he said.
“You have to feel sorry for the business owners who lost stock, and in some cases, their buildings destroyed.
“For now, we are just monitoring the situation and getting feedback from the police on what will transpire and hoping things get back to normal again.”
Anders felt sorry for the police and security personnel who were trying to protect properties.
“I (also) feel for the people and their families who lost their lives or were injured. For what? A bag of free rice? I look at the long lines of people queueing up to use the ATM’s since the riots. Nothing good came from this episode,” Anders said.
He said he had received calls from people in Vietnam, Singapore, Switzerland and Australia “asking me if we are okay”.
“PNG’s image on the world stage has been tarnished. How long will it take for the businesses to rebuild and restock?
“The businesses that don’t survive will lead to even more unemployment in the country.”
He said it was obvious that people were frustrated after having been let down by successive governments.
“The continual slide of the kina increases the cost of living pressure. People are struggling to survive.
“The shortage of FX is going to make it hard for these businesses to rebuild and restock.”