K3mil for families’ loss during eviction exercise

By DOROTHY MARK
The Madang National Court has ordered the State and RD Fishing PNG Ltd to pay more than K3 million in damage costs to victims of an eviction exercise in Madang in May 2014.
Judge David Cannings on Friday ruled in favour of Thompson Munvi and 1334 others who had their homes torched and properties destroyed by police.
Justice Cannings said the plaintiffs sued various members of the police force, the State and the registered proprietor of a piece of land they had been living on.
Their eviction involved a police raid and destruction of their homes, gardens and other properties and assault of some plaintiffs at Maiwara Compound on May 1, 2014.
It was claimed that the eviction exercise was requested and sponsored by RD Fishing Ltd even though the company had ceased to be a registered proprietor of the land, having surrendered its State lease on May 15, 2009.
Cannings said the cause of the policemen’s actions in the plaintiffs’ statements of claims were breaches of human rights and negligence.
He said a default judgement was entered against the defendants being the then-Madang taskforce police commander Arnold Takai, provincial police commander Sylvester Kalaut, Madang lands officer, Madang administrator, Madang government and RD Fishing Ltd.
None of the defendants appeared in court for trial accepts for police and the State.
Cannings ordered the State and RD Fishing Ltd to pay K3,036,161.71 to 106 plaintiffs who filed affidavits to support their claims.
The total cost involved general damage, loss of properties, compensation of breach of human rights and interest.
Cannings dismissed the proceeding against all other defendants and ordered the State and RD Fishing Ltd to pay the total cost on a party-party basis.