Peaceful Maprik shattered by rioters

IT was with great sadness and shame that the people of Maprik watched helplessly as opportunists raided Papindo in a two-hour spree last Friday.
Following an initial trouble at Papindo Wewak a few days earlier, the store had been on alert and was prepared for possible trouble.
Although the store was secured, rioters broke down the gates and in a two-hour frenzy, terrorised the management, staff, customers and public with sticks and bush knives taken from the store’s hardware section.
With rumour circulating in Maprik that there would be a raid on the department store, and the town packed with people from Yangoru-Saussia, Wosera-Gawi, Albiges-Mamblep and Ambunti-Dreikikir due to the cocoa season, opportunists used the occasion to plunder the store.
The local police were outnumbered and could not control the huge crowd.
As the opportunists took whatever they could, women, elderly people and children who were trapped in the store, escaped by climbing over the razor-wire fences at the back of the building.
This is the first time such an incident took place in Maprik and opportunists had tarnished the good name of the town known for its peacefulness and quiet.
The silent majority of the peaceful people condemn the behaviour of the opportunists.

Cynthia
Maprik