PM: Violence unacceptable

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has condemned the recent spate of violence in Port Moresby as the city prepares to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders week in Port Moresby in November.
“Any dispute should be settled by relevant legal authorities, and under no circumstances should groups take the law into their own hands,” he said.
“We are no longer living in traditional societies. We are living in the modern era. And this type of behaviour is not acceptable in any way.”
Last Saturday at Hohola, a soldier died and more than 10 homes and properties were destroyed following a clash between soldiers and squatter settlers. The police and military are investigating the incident.
At Morata, two people died and three homes razed following a fight over a piece of land between squatter settlers from Eastern Highlands and Enga. Police were at Morata yesterday to talk to the settlers from other parts of the country living there.
O’Neill deplored the involvement of soldiers in the Hohola incident.
“This type of behaviour by members of the disciplined services will not be tolerated. And those involved will be dealt with through their own codes of conduct and also face the full force of civilian law,” he said.
He said the National Capital District Commission and relevant State agencies would review policies on the squatter settlements in cities and towns “with a view to better integrate settlers from different parts of Papua New Guinea so that no one group can dominate others”.
“We have no other option but to learn to live together as Papua New Guineans and not in regional or tribal groups,” he said.
“The world is changing. Papua New Guinea must continue to change also.”
O’Neill, who is in Brisbane to attend the Business Advantage investment conference, in Brisbane yesterday where he was encouraging investors to place their confidence in modern Papua New Guinea.
He said it was disappointing to hear news of the unrest when the world was closely monitoring the country’s progress and development towards the 2018 leaders’ summit in Port Moresby in November.
O’Neill had said earlier the country was “demonstrating leadership in our region, and taking the opportunity to promote the positive economic potential that our country has to offer”.
“Apec is already changing the way the world, and particularly the international investment community, views our country,” he said.