Police call to remove settlers

AUTHORITIES should consider evicting settlers residing around Wau town in Bulolo, especially those that are continuously causing problems, a senior police officer says.
Morobe police Commander Supt Alex N’Drasal said the town belonged to the State and the people should not hold everyone at ransom.
He made the call following the ongoing conflict between two groups of people that had impacted the community in Wau.
Supt N’Drasal supported local MP Sam Basil’s insistence that no peace and reconciliation would be done until all those responsible for the latest incidents were arrested and charged.
This order followed a fight between the Bianghai and Waria people in Wau two weeks ago.
A person was killed and 35 houses belonging to the Waria community at Ono settlement were burnt down.
“We have to critically assess the situation and the authorities have to come up with a solution that will minimise effectively, law and order problems that certain groups of people are causing which affects everyone,” Supt N’Drasal said.
He said to identify settlements that were constantly causing conflicts and those that harboured people involved in those conflicts.
“These people have to go back to where they come from.”
Supt N’drasal also called on the public to help police identify trouble makers and arrest them in order to address and minimise the law and order problems in the district.
He said police operations in the area would continue for another month.
Supt N’drasal said Basil’s instruction to delay peace negotiations would be followed until all suspects were brought to justice.