Madang deputy governor ‘nearly slashed’ by youth

MADANG deputy governor Rama Marisan was nearly slashed by a bush knife-wielding youth in an ethnic clash between Manam islanders and Sumkar locals on Monday.
The youth swung his bush knife at Marisan, who was driving, but missed and slashed the bonnet.
The clash also resulted in 15 houses being torched and razed.
Madang police reported that a fight broke out when a youth from Manam was attacked with a bush knife in the afternoon. According to Iabu LLG president Kenny Boli, the youth went fishing and sold some of his catch to locals on credit in Bunabun village.
He then followed the locals to their village to get the payment for the fish but local youths slashed his head with a bush knife.
Boli said the Manam youth managed to run away but he fell unconscious at a care centre.
The Manams then mobilised and attacked the locals, setting fire to 15 houses. Police said the Manam youth was slashed with a bush knife because he stole a coconut.
Marisan said he went with a team from the provincial government to check the clash and was attacked.
Acting administrator Joseph Bonomane was verbally abused but he contained the situation and met with the Manams till late Tuesday night.
Marisan called for the police to arrest those responsible for burning the houses belonging to the Bunabuns and the assailants who slashed the Manam youth.
Bonomane said the meeting with the Manams ended with a decision to leave the matter to the police.
Acting provincial health director Paul Mabong said health workers from Bunabun were evacuated yesterday after one of them was nearly beheaded.
Bonomane said the situation was still tense and the administration was working closely with the police to keep the situation under control.