Locals set trucks ablaze in Porgera

By PISAI GUMAR
TWO container trucks transporting goods for the Porgera gold mine, in Enga Province, have been set on fire by locals near Karik airport.
The Tipini clansmen blocked the road there at around 10am last Friday and set fire to the two Kenworth container trucks owned by Mapai Transport and Winz Transport, two locally-owned trucking companies from Enga.
The relatives of the two owners of the trucks were frustrated and set roadblocks on Saturday and Sunday at Anze and Lakolam village, in the Wapenanmanda and Wabag districts, respectively.
That left PMV buses and trucks belonging to Porgerans stranded in Mt Hagen. Drivers and passengers were afraid of being attacked by the relatives of the owners of the trucks.
The frustrated relatives allowed light vehicles and PMV buses owned by other people to pass through the roadblocks.
Provincial police commander Martin Lakari said the Tipini clansmen set fire to the trucks, completely destroying the engines.
He said the Tipini clansmen were about to break open the four containers to loot them when police intervened.
He said the two trucks were then towed into the Porgera mine site and left at the workshop there.
Lakari said the two trucks were among four transporting goods into Porgera.
He said locals allowed other two trucks through but burnt the two owned by fellow Engans.