Maprik locals set hotel on fire

By GABRIEL FITO
MAPRIK township in East Sepik was thrown into chaos last Thursday night as hundreds of armed locals outnumbered police to set alight the Waken Hotel.
Residents watched helplessly as the only decent hotel in town went up in flames.
The fewer than 10 policeman gallantly stood their ground to evacuate guests and save part of the hotel.
Maprik police station commander Chief Sgt James Baugen, who was with his men, admitted police had been overpowered by a huge crowd of mainly youths who set fire to the hotel.
Baugen said with only 18 members of the force split into three shifts each day, the situation was beyond police control.
But he praised his men for their bravery.
The hotel is owned and operated by a local businessman from Aibom village in the Chambri Lakes area of East Sepik.
Baugen said the incident stemmed from an accident in Maprik where two passengers returning from Wewak allegedly jumped off a PMV truck and suffered major injuries to their heads.
The two passengers, with fractured skulls, were rushed to the hospital but one died before help could be offered.
Police alleged the two jumped off the truck because the truck failed to stop at their bus stop.
Baugen said Maprik locals mistook the PMV for that of the hotel ope­rator and stormed into the premises after the news of the fatal accident reached them.
He said the situation was tense but police were keeping a close watch and investigating both incidents.
The hotel management could not be reached for comments yesterday