Police vehicle stoned

TWO men were arrested in Kiunga for damaging a police vehicle windscreen by throwing stones during an operation, North Fly police commander Insp Silva Sika said.
Sika told The National that there was an increasing number of alcohol-related problems in Tabubil, Ningerum and Kiunga in Western.
“People are getting their royalty payments from OK Tedi Mine Ltd since last month and there has been a lot of social problems in the villages,” he said.
He said people were not using their money wisely and were spending it on alcohol, which caused a lot of drunkards harassing innocent people, fighting and stoning of police vehicles going into communities to help.
Sika said the two men arrested were drinking alcohol when police on operation intervened into a group of drunkards causing nuisance.
They attacked police instead, he said.
“Villagers along the mining areas and down to Kiunga are the ones receiving their royalty payments and causing more trouble,” he said.
Sika also added that there was only one Bank South Pacific ATM and the branch manager had raised issue that a customer standing on ATM queue could hold more than five bank cards to make withdrawal for others, causing inconvenience for others.