Powi calls halt to highway harassment

By JEFFREY ELAPA
SOUTHERN Highlands Governor William Powi has appealed to people in Nipa-Kutubu to respect the rule of law and stop harrassing people using the highway.
He called on the police to patrol the highway and deal with people trying to harass travellers.
“People of Nipa living along the highway from Mendi to Margarima, bordering Hela should stop roadblocks and respect the rule of law and not harass our brothers and sisters from Hela travelling along the highway,” he said.
“This is criminal and I appeal to the provincial police commander in Mendi to deal with these criminal elements.
“There are proper ways of dealing with conflicts rather than blocking off the highway and stealing from and harassing innocent people.”
Powi said there were so many good people in Nipa-Kutubu who respected the law and the rights of other people.
“We want to maintain our identity as good citizens. I am appealing to those few who see fit to tarnish our name and dignity to stop destroying our standing in our community or they could face the full force of the law,” he said.
“We have had enough of this criminal activity. Hela people belong to a separate province and we should respect their rights and freedom to use the highway.”
“No one should take that freedom away.”
Powi also asked the people of Hela to maintain their good relationship.
Leaders from Hela and Southern Highlands met recently to discuss how best they could address the law and order issues on the highway.