Locals hold talks over ESP accident

 By ROSELYN ELLISON

PEACE talks are being held between people of two districts in East Sepik following a road accident that claimed the lives of 12 people, including four teachers.

Most of those who died were from the Yangoru-Saussia district. The owner of the vehicle is from Bengrakum village in the Yamil-Tamaui local level government area, Maprik district.

The talks began at the Munji Primary School last Thursday organised by the boards of the primary schools in Munji and Warasawa. It will continue today.

Apart from the 12 who died in the accident two weeks ago, 20 others are still admitted at the Boram General Hospital.

The 12 who died were from the districts of Maprik, Ambunti-Dreikikir, Wosera-Gawi, Yangoru-Saussia and Wewak. 

It is understood that three of them were primary school teachers at Munji and Warasawa.

A male student from one of the schools died while the deputy head teacher of the Warasawa Primary School is still fighting for her life in the Wewak General Hospital. 

Board members of the two schools, community leaders and police officers attended the meeting.

The team from Maprik was led by Maprik-Wosera Local Level Government president Ian Samuel, who accepted a petition from the Yangoru-Saussia side.

He said while it was an accident that no one had planned for, the Maprik people were willing to assist. But they wanted the road kept open so that the people from Maprik could travel to Wewak freely.

Maprik MP John Simon has already met the cost of 12 coffins and repatriating the bodies to their respective villages.