No arms to fight piracy

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
POLICE on Misima Island have no firearms to thwart armed pirates from robbing shops at Bwagoiawa Station in Murua of Milne Bay, the island’s acting commander Snr Const Kevin Muri says.
“We were unable to confront the armed pirates when they raided and completely ransacked the only three Chinese-owned shops in 2016 and 2018,” he said.
“But we did confront the pirates in 2013 and prevented them from robbing the shops when we had firearms.
“We had a 303 and a pump-action and we exchanged gunfire with the pirates and they left.
“That was the only time in 2013 when we successfully defended the shops from been robbed by pirates who were armed with automatic firearms.
“But then the former acting provincial commander Insp George Bayagau came and took away our only two firearms, saying the weapons would be used for parade drills back in Alotau.
“Then we had robberies in 2017 and 2018 and we did nothing but watched while the pirates ransacked the shops.
“We then heard that pirates would stage a similar robbery in last December and so we brought in four armed police officers from Alotau and they have been here since November last year.”
Snr Const Muri said the pirates usually robbed shops around December when they were about to close. “They usually come by boats when the sea is calm and they number up to 20,” he said.
“The robbery of the Chinese-owned shops are continuing because the Chinese don’t bank their money.
“There are no banks here so they keep the money in their shops.
“Pirates are always planning to rob these shops and putting our lives at risk.
“But then these shops serve the villagers and public servants on the Island.”
Snr Const Muri said they had problems with court cases as there was no magistrate on Misima.
“Most of the suspects arrested are charged with disturbing peace in communities after they’ve been intoxicated with homebrew and marijuana. We detain them in the cell,” he said.
“But then the magistrate comes from Alotau after six months so all the cases are struck out because they have lapsed three months.
“Most of these suspects are youths who are grade eight and 12 school leavers in the villages.
“The last time we had a residential magistrate was in 2013.”
Snr Const Muri, who has been on Misima for 21 years, said that they had three regular officers and four reservists.
“There are no violent crimes like rape, murder, armed robbery on the island,” he said.
“It’s only the pirates who come from outside to rob the shops on the island with information provided by people on this island.”