Law, order improving in Madang

CRIME rate and violence is gradually subsiding since the deployment of police personnel to Madang town.
Though noises are still heard in some parts of the town, the trouble free Independence Day celebration in parts of Madang depicts a positive sign.
Children made the day special in traditional attires to display their provincial and country colours.
Madang now is portraying the level of confidence in their MPs – Madang Governor Peter Yama and Police Minister Bryan Kramer. It has been the prayer of majority of the people to bring back Madang to its glory days as the beautiful town.
As such, the deployment of police personnel is a positive step taken to minimise violence and criminal activities.
This would coincide with a peaceful sitting protest planned a month earlier to be staged at the provincial administration area by the Yomba Catholic Women’s group on Sept 19.
People are now trying to take ownership of this initiative to restore Madang.
On the contrary, there are some serious human rights issues in regard to the conduct of some police personnel which should be exposed to the public. This is to regulate behaviours of rogue police officers to perform their duties with respect to the law.
Actions as such, degrade the good work of other dedicated officers and paint a bad picture on the overall work of the police.
This would even demoralise and loose the support of the public.
There are reports on several police shootouts with alleged criminals that have resulted in injuries and deaths. Such incidents demand thorough investigation by police hierarchy.
Suspicions arise as to whether alleged criminals are shot dead or injured by police personnel due to self-defence or out of sheer frustration and premeditated actions when incidents are not reported.
Some policemen say as quoted, “Yupla yet askim mipela long kam” meaning “you asked us to come here.”
This does not give any rights to any police officers to act in contradiction to their official duty to enforce the law and protect the rights and freedom of every citizen.
Otherwise, police deployment is well acknowledged by the people.
It would be even better should the local MPs put aside all their political differences and work together to restore Madang.

Luwi James
Madang