Police leave Bulolo despite tension among tribes

 A THREE-month police operation in Bulolo, Morobe, ended last Friday although there is still tension among the warring clans.

The alcohol ban is still in place and police at Mumeng, Bulolo and Wau continue to ensure a safe environment for the peace process.

Operations commander Chief Inspector David Warap said investigations into the killings and destruction of properties were continuing.

He urged the public to respect the law and have confidence in the peace process.

Warap admitted that the peace process was slow but they would eventually bring the warring parties together for talks.

“I am disappointed in the peace process being too slow. We are yet to bring those warring parties to the negotiating table,” he said.

“The withdrawal of the police mobile squad may be premature but hopefully there are some counter measures in place if there are disturbances in the peace process,”  he said.

Morobe Governor Kelly Naru declared the township of Bulolo a fighting zone in November last year after an ethnic clash between the Garaina Bubus and the Watuts, who lived in the town.

Assistant Police Commissioner Nema Mondiai thanked everyone who had helped in the Bulolo police operations.

“I take this opportunity to thank the business community, through the Bulolo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which supported the police operations.

“I thank them for their support in the past three months and believe they will continue to support the work of police in the future,” Mondiai said.