PM to travel to Tari, pay respect to officer killed

By REBECCA KUKU
PRIME Minister James Marape will travel to Tari to pay his last respects to Sergeant David Hale, the second-in-command of the Mobile Squad Nine in Hela killed in Tokia/Kuparo village, on Tuesday.
Hale, 45, and three policemen were escorting the Hela provincial government administrator when they were ambushed by more than 70 men from Tokia/Kuparo village, who were armed with guns and bush knives.
The attackers blocked the road at around 3pm on Tuesday, disarmed the policemen and shot Sgt Hale.
Const James Kobol was seriously injured.
Hale had served in Hela for more than 20 years.
Marape condemned the killing and told The National that police officers should be allowed to do their jobs of enforcing law and maintaining order and not be targeted in this manner.
“In a province like Hela, where not too many public servants including police want to serve there, it pains me that uncontrolled minds can’t keep from using violence on the few who serve in the province,” he said.
“I will support the police to resolve outstanding law and order matters in Hela and will be flying back home on Sunday to pay respect to the policeman who was killed.”
Marape said he also supported the call made by the Acting Police Commissioner David Manning for those responsible to surrender to police and for the stolen police issued firearms to be returned immediately.
Manning said in a statement yesterday that he had directed additional police reinforcements and detectives to Tari to investigate the shooting.
“I strongly condemn the attack on my officers,” he said.
“It is sad that we are going down this road. The majority of Hela people are good. It is only a handful who are making life difficult for everyone.”
Manning said two other policemen who were with Hale and Kobol managed to flee.
He said a team of PNG Defence Force soldiers and policemen attended to the scene of the attack.