Police arrest 11 allegedly involved in Porgera fight

National

POLICE and soldiers have been looking after Porgera town well with the arrest of 11 men since Prime Minister James Marape announced a state of emergency last month, says a senior police officer.
Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Highlands Western End Command John Kale said the suspects were arrested for their involvement in the destruction of government established buildings, arson and the deaths last month in Porgera.
“Investigations were conducted by police and more arrests should be made on other suspects that were involved in the recent chaos in Porgera,”he said.
He said those arrested were members of the two ethnic groups that were involved in the tribal fight last month.
Kale said if the ethnic groups wanted the election to run smoothly then they had to surrender their weapons and stop fighting.
“I appeal to the warlords to put their differences aside and surrender to end the fighting,” he said.
Kale said there could be police presence on the ground providing security but it was the attitude of the people that would determine if they wanted peace or not.