Hela to press govt to declare state of emergency

THE Hela provincial executive council will continue to press for the Government to declare a State of Emergency (SOE) in the province despite opposition from Komo/Margarima MP Francis Potape and businessman Larry Andagali.
Acting Governor Philip Undialu said the leaders of the province met and resolved to call on the Government to declare a SOE in the province.
“The PEC, backed by the provincial police commander and the Hela administration, has resolved to call for SOE to help us weed out guns and warlords,” he said.
Undialu said the volatile situation around Hela had reached such alarming proportions and created a pre-requisite for an emergency to be declared.
“All the electorates of Komo/Margarima, Tari/Pori and Koroba Lake Kopiago have declared that tribal fights claimed many lives.
“We, as leaders of the province, must make some serious decisions in the interest of our people, the business community and the public servants,” he said.
“We cannot simply sit around and indulge in our differences in politics to gain mileage while our people live in fear every day and night.”
Undialu said law and order situation in Hela cannot simply be compromised with political grandstanding.
“There have been a total of eight unresolved tribal fights in Komo/Margarima alone, which has resulted 30 deaths, including two policemen and two soldiers.
“Warlords are running around with high-powered guns and setting frequent road-blocks along the Ambua gap and robbing the travelling public.”
Undialu said MPs and community leaders have initiated peace negotiations, some of which have been fruitful while many have remained unresolved.
“Let me assure the people of Hela that we are calling for state of emergency that will wage war against the warlords, high-powered guns and murders in the province.”
Undialu said statistics are so alarming that the government cannot simply ignore the cry from its people. He said call for SOE  will not affect provincial government operations.