Parkop condemns violence

By Rebecca Kuku and Majorie Finkeo
NATIONAL Capital District Governor Powes Parkop has condemned the violence that broke out after the Lae Tigers beat Hela Wigmen 15-4 in the Digicel Cup rugby league final at the National Football Stadium on Sunday.
Parkop said that he was “totally disgusted, ashamed” by what had transpired.
According to police reports, four females were stripped and sexually abused by a group of Hela Wigmen supporters at Boroko.
Dog Unit director Leith Nidung told The National that the four young women wearing Lae Tigers T-shirts were pulled off near the big drain at the back of Stop & Shop next to Salvation Army, where their clothes were torn off.
Nidung said they were harassed and sexually assaulted when police arrived at the scene.
“They were completely naked and the group of Hela Wigmen supporters were trying to gang-rape them when police arrived and rescued them,” he said.
“The public assisted the four women with clothes to cover their bodies.
“Luckily, the incident happened close to the police station, there was a lot of people watching but no one wanted to help till police arrived at the scene.
“What has happened to our society for such an animalistic act to have taken place?”
Nidung said Hela Wigmen supporters also threw stones at their vehicles and police were outnumbered but they did their very best to contain the incident.
“Vehicle windscreens were stoned, lap tops, mobile phones stolen, bag-snatching, pick-pockets and many innocent Lae Snax Tigers supporters were attacked.
“It was difficult to arrest the suspects because of the crowd and we could not identify them.”
Hela Governor Philip Undialu also condemned the attacks and mayhem caused by Hela supporters after they lost.
Undialu told The National that “while he was not taking responsibility for the incidents” he condemned the actions of the person or persons using the Hela Wigmen name to incite violence.
Meanwhile, the Hela Wigmen Rugby League Club released a statement yesterday saying that it was an isolated incident by opportunists.
The statement said that an isolated incident could not be used to discredit what was an outstanding 2019 Digicel Cup competition, an entertaining finals series topping off with a spectacular grand final on Sunday.
“The Kroton Hela Wigmen were gracious in defeat.
“No punches were thrown by the players or the officials for the entire 80 minutes. Rugby League won at the end of the day,” the statement said.
“What happened between spectators within National Football Stadium are within the jurisdiction of the venue management to take note off and appropriate fines and actions to be imposed on the people concerned.
“What happens outside the National Football Stadium are in the hands of the police and appropriate charges must be laid on the people concerned by laying formal complaints. It is a police matter.”