Mourners pack to receive Narokobi

RAPED with the PNG National Flag and flanked by military guards, the casket of the late Bernard Narokobi was met by thousands of mourners yesterday afternoon at Boram Airport, Wewak.
The entire airport area was packed to capacity with friends, relatives, East Sepik provincial dignitaries, members of the three disciplinary forces, school children and members of the public that gathered to await the arrival of a great leader.
Among the crowd were East Sepik regional MP and Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, Governor Peter Wararu and Wewak MP Jim Simatab, who were there to receive the body of the late Mr Narokobi.
In his honour, a public holiday was declared today by the East Sepik provincial administration for the people of East Sepik to pay their last respect to a great leader before the body is taken to his home village of Wautogik.
The casket stayed in Wewak last night at the family residence at Wewak Hill and would depart for Wautogik at 1pm today after a state funeral service at the Christ the King Cathedral at Wirui.
The body of the late Mr Narokobi would be finally laid to rest at his Wautogik village, Dagua, tomorrow afternoon.