Killing sparks violence in Kiunga

By ANGELINE KARIUS
SCHOOLS and businesses have re-opened and normalcy restored in the Western town of Kiunga after a mob raided shops and burnt properties last Monday.
The mob comprised the relatives of Samuel Powi, 28, who was found dead along the Ok Tedi Mining Ltd road last Friday.
Powi was last seen alive earlier at the Fay Trading nightclub.
Powi is understood to have attended a dance which ended up in a fight where he was reportedly badly beaten and stabbed.
He was part Morobe and Yongom tribe in the North Fly area.
His relatives from Yongom headed into town on Monday ransacking properties belonging to the Chinese and Highlanders and burnt two shops.
Southern Highlands regional police commander Alfred Reu said police could not stop the riot as they were outnumbered.
He said a peace mediation committee was set up and an agreement signed between the Highlands community and the Yongom people.
“The mediation was headed by the provincial administrator William Goinau and signed by the two groups at around 7.30pm (Monday). 
“And as of yesterday (Tuesday) morning everything had returned to normal,” he said.
Reu appealed to the Kiunga and surrounding communities to respect the business houses and to let police complete their investigations into Powi’s death.
He has also assured Airlines PNG and Air Niugini that normalcy had returned to the province.
Police are questioning a man over Powi’s death.
Provincial administrator William Goinau could not be reached for comment.