Landowners, settlers agree to stop fighting

THE people of Ahi in Lae and settlers from Southern Highlands living nearby have agreed to stop fighting and to restore normalcy in the city.
The Ahi, people who are traditional owners of land around the city, were angry when a man from Butibam village was killed allegedly by some men from Southern Highland on Saturday morning at Eight Street in Top Town. Homes were burnt as tension was high, forcing the closure of three schools in the area.
The reconciliation talk was chaired by Lae Acting Metropolitan Superintendent Fred Kaiwa. He called for cooperation to bring all those involved in the killing to justice.
“Police will keep the Ahi people informed of any arrests made on those involved in the killing. I am asking leaders from Southern Highlands to work with us,” Kaiwa said. Police have arrested three suspects.
Ahi crisis committee chairman Holmes Kissing said it was an unfortunate situation.
“Leaders from Southern Highlands did not send those people to kill our man. We now have to work together to get them to face justice,” he said.