Ongoing conflicts at Mangem care centre affecting families

By SAMUEL BARIASI
AN ongoing conflict between the people of Manam settled at the Mangem Care Centre and landowners at Murukanam is affecting families there, Duguluva ward member Paul Maburau says.
Maburau said the conflict started last year when two youths from Manam were killed in a fight against the landowners.
“The piece of land that was allocated to the settlers at Mangem is small and cannot cater for the entire population,” he said.
He said the conflict was over settlers harvesting trees, coconuts, garden food and other resources belonging to the landowners.
“We are running out of space to make gardens, trees to build houses and other resources to sustain ourselves,” he said.
Maburau said several gardens, houses and properties of conflicting sides were destroyed.
“Last week, another fight broke out again between settlers at Mangem and landowners of Murukanam.”
Maburau said even though police were there, more resources were needed to make sure the police continued to maintain their presence during times of conflict.
“We, the Manam ward members try to help maintain police presence with our monthly allowances from the government but sometimes our allowances are delayed so we do not get to do that,” he said.
About 7,000 Manam islanders, Maburau said, from the care centres on the mainland of Bogia had returned to the “volcano devastated” Manam Island because of conflicts with landowners at the care centres and struggles they faced living in those centres.
“We are telling our youths not to go outside the care centres but stay within the area allocated to us to protect our women, children, gardens and properties, including our schools and clinics,” he said.
The Mangem Care Centre is located close to the border of Sumkar and Bogia in Madang where Manam islanders settled.