Police team sent to Kiriwina

By REBECCA KUKU
A POLICE team comprising officers from Port Moresby and Milne Bay have been sent to Kiriwina Island.
The team will assess the situation there, said provincial commander Superintendent Peter Barkie.
Barkie said that the team left at 4am yesterday and sailed from East Cape.
“We also have a section from the mobile squad on standby and the police patrol boat Baki II will be providing support,” he said.
Baki II was expected to arrive last night after leaving Port Moresby yesterday.
“What happens next will depend on the situation report we receive from the advance team,” he said.
Barkie said he had also asked for a Joint Task Force Investigating team to help investigate the deaths at Kiriwina.
“I have received unconfirmed reports that there were more than 20, close to 30 killings, but again, we have to wait on the report from the advance team before we know the actual death tally.
“What I can confirm now is that the fighting has stopped, both sides have brought their dead home to be buried and to carry out the normal customary traditions to pay respects to their dead, but the situation is still tense,” he said.
Barkie said that it was a shock to hear of the killings, as the fighting only lasted for three hours on Monday.
“So we will need assistance from the Joint Task Force Investigating team to investigate these killings and get closure for these families,” he said.