Peace talks successful

POLICE have successfully negotiated to end the tribal fighting in Simberigi near Gobe oil field in Southern Highlands province that claimed several lives recently.
Southern Highlands provincial police commander Chief Supt Jimmy Onopia told The National yesterday members of police mobile squad 10 were deployed to witness the peace agreement being signed between the two warring tribes in Semberigi. Peace was brokered last week. The peace agreement is scheduled
to be signed this weekend by many high profile company and Government officers and the police.
Chief Supt Onopia said it had been difficult to bring about peace due to  their manpower shortage.
However, Port Moresby’s mobile squad 2 was deployed into Mendi to help control the situation.
Meanwhile, he said the murder suspect of an Oil Search employee at the Hides liquefied natural gas
(LNG) plant last week had “gone into hiding in the jungle” and it was becoming difficult to apprehend him.
Chief Supt Onopia said he had already formulated a strategy to deploy police officers tasked with
special duties to handle disputes, especially in the LNG areas.
“The strategy is to be implemented early next month to ensure that the country’s biggest LNG project is safeguarded,” he said.