Platoon in Tari to help police restore peace after gunfights

By GEORGINA KOREI and YVONNE KAMBIBEL
A PLATOON of soldiers from Port Moresby has arrived in Tari, Hela to help police restore peace and order following gunfights between the police and tribal leaders.
Deputy Defence Force Chief Commodore Philip Polewara said the platoon would also secure their Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Tari.
“The soldiers from Taurama Barracks were deployed last Thursday and Friday to Mt Hagen before travelling to the area of operation in Tari, Hela,” he said.
“The soldiers will (also) assist police in the security operations under the provincial police commanders.”
Defence Force Commander Major-General Mark Goina said the military base in Tari was to have been occupied last month but there had been a delay.
Meanwhile, two primary schools in Tari have been told to close early for the first term break.
Provincial education adviser Ronny Angu said the Kuluanda and Tari Admin primary schools were near where the fighting occurred.
“All other schools in the province are operating as normal,” he said.
“Our education division officers in the province have been conducting frequent inspections of our schools. We have been (assisted) by the police and (soldiers) during our school inspection which really helped.”