Murder ignites fight in Kokopo

A MURDER on Wednesday has sparked a clash between villagers of two wards with the torching of many houses and destruction of properties in Vunamurmur and Nangananga wards of Kokopo’s Raluana local level government in East New Britain (ENB).
The clash between these two wards began last Wednesday after a man from Umbukul village in Kavieng, New Ireland, was murdered.
Police commander Chief Inspt Joseph Tabali said the murder occurred between 10.45am and 11.45am when Nangananga and Vunamurmur youth fought and John Suruki, 27, from Umbukul, was slashed in his back, neck and hands with a bush knife.
Suruki had been staying with a relative in Vunamurmur since last year.
Chief Insp Tabali said Suruki was rushed to St Mary’s Vunapope Hospital but died before arrival due to loss of blood. “When the Vunamurmur youths learnt of the death, they retaliated by burning down houses and destroying properties in Nangananga,” he said.
“They also blocked the road, stopping public motor vehicles from Nangananga from going to Kokopo.”
Chief Insp Tabali said police were monitoring the situation and the roadblocks were cleared on Friday morning.
“The situation at the moment is tense and police mobile squad 17 and Kokopo police response unit are at the crime scene.
“I am appealing to leaders of these two communities to work with us and bring the suspects to us (police) so they can be charged accordingly,” he said.
Meanwhile, an additional police mobile squad team from Port Moresby are now in Kokopo to boost police manpower as ENB was now experiencing an ethnic clash.