Police monitor tension at mine

By JIMMY KALEBE
A SECTION of the police Mobile Squad 15 in Morobe has been deployed since last Friday to monitor the situation at Wafi-Golpu mine, Morobe police commander Alex N’Drasal says.
N’Drasal said yesterday that the situation was still tense and police were there to make sure law and order problems and other issues did not get out of hand.
Police were deployed after a stop-work notice was put out by some people claiming to be landowners of the mine.
Employees have not been turning up to work since.
N’Drasal said police would be there at the mine stir until the situation was under control and normalcy restored.
“Police are also there to make sure that properties are not damaged and workers are not disturbed or harassed,” he said.
“The mine site is quiet now and many employees have decamped while a skeleton staff still maintained in the area.”
N’Drasal said on Monday that two opposition clans fought each other after one group tried to burn a stop-work banner that was placed by the other last Friday.
“It appears that all the oil, gas, mining and fishing projects happening around the country are faced with such problems,” N’Drasal said.
He said all the members of parliament, leaders and representatives in Morobe should work together to address the issue.
“In many cases, it is the leaders who create the situation and allow for such inconveniences among the Government, developers and the landowners.”
N’Drasal said the Government had to be very careful when making decisions in relation to such impact projects,because when not careful, such problems arise.