Quake victims want police to arrest ‘animals’ who attacked aid team

EARTHQUAKE-affected people from Southern Highlands and Hela are calling for police to arrest the people who attacked Unicef officers last Saturday.
They are also urging people in Nipa district, Southern Highlands, to apologise to Unicef and for police to use any necessary force to apprehend the suspects.
The affected people are saying the incident would hurt the reputation of the two provinces and label them as “dangerous places for donor agencies”.
Tapa Tamiape, from Tari-Pori said most relief supplies coming in were from donor agencies, stakeholders and non-government organisations, and because of that their officers should be respected and treated well.
“We are not seeing anything from the our government,” Tamiape said.
“The donors are helping us and what the animals at Nipa did must not be repeated.
“The majority of the people in Nipa are peace-loving people.
“A minority group attacked the officers.
“It must not set a precedent and police must immediately arrest those culprits.
“They are animals, not human beings.”
Former Southern Highlands’ disaster coordinator Martin Pat said the minority group at Nipa station must surrender to police.
“It is really bad,” he said.
“We will still be facing disasters in the future and these humanitarian groups will come to assist us.
“This animalistic behaviour must not be a barrier to turn them away.”
Pat said many Nipa people were peace-loving and the minority who caused this problem should be arrested and charged.
District disaster coordinator and planner Robin Tuna said the people of Nipa formally apologised to Unicef officers on Monday in the presence of police and the provincial disaster committee.
He said they made a pledge to see that such an incident did not happen again and that they were ready to work with Unicef.