Kulunga’s choice for ESP challenged

By GABRIEL FITO
POLICE Commissioner Tom Kulunga has been criticised for replacing Vincent Pokas as provincial police commander in East Sepik.
East Sepik provincial law and order committee chairman Timothy Wani said Kulunga should realise that the court was yet to decide on who was the rightful police chief.
Kulunga’s decision to replace Pokas was announced by deputy police commissioner operations Simon Kauba in a newspaper report yesterday.
Wani, a member of the East Sepik provincial executive council which filed the Supreme Court reference, said Kulunga’s decision was illegal because the country did not have a legitimate police commissioner.
The court is yet to decide on whether Kulunga or Fred Yakasa, who took the matter to court, should hold that position.
Wani, accompanied by fellow provincial council member David Kausik, dismissed Kulunga’s reasoning that Pokas was losing “command and control” in East Sepik.
Wani said the law and order problem was experienced everywhere in Papua New Guinea.
Speaking on behalf of his provincial council colleagues, he said police in East Sepik were doing a great job and were already stepping up their preparations for the election.
The provincial council also did not want to see politics creeping into the police force.
Wani said it was better for Pokas to complete the election operations and investigations into the killing of Wewak station commander Charles Parinjo before any changes were made.