Rangers attacked us, claim women

 By ARMSTRONG SAIYAMA 

A GROUP of women selling empty containers at the Mobil service station along Waigani Drive in Port Moresby were attacked yesterday by the National Capital District city rangers.

Margaret Moki said the rangers knocked down their containers and put them in their vehicle.

“They blamed us for creating rubbish near the service station area,” she said.

Moki said service station workers confronted the rangers who left the containers and went away.

Josephine Dumbi said it was shameful to attack women selling empty containers.

“We don’t sell buai (betel nut) and cigarettes,” Dumbi said.

“We only sell empty containers. 

“We don’t create any rubbish here.”

But National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop said there were designated markets provided in the city for vendors.

“Our people should not trade everywhere in the city,” he said.

He said there were rules and regulations in the city to be implemented by the National Capital District Commission.

Parkop urged the women to report any mistreatment they might have received from the rangers.

Moki said, as single mothers, they faced financial problems and needed to work hard to put food on the table for their children.

“Our husbands have left us and we are here trying to look after our children and our families by selling empty containers,” she said.

Naomi Michael said the city rangers needed to respect the rights of women vendors like them.

“We are just like your mothers back in the villages,” she said.

“We try to sell our goods and make an honest living to feed, clothe, house and send our children to school.”

The Eastern Highlanders said the city rangers should target the buai and cigarette vendors in the city.