Relatives of deceased call for peace in community

By JIMMY KALEBE
RELATIVES of a man from Kol village, Upper Jimi district in Jiwaka who was killed on Dec 29 at Igam Block in Lae, are calling for peace between the factions.
The deceased’s (Joseph Komb) uncle Max Dilu said the relatives agreed to leave everything to police and let the law take its own course.
“I am calling on police, community leaders from both sides to work in collaboration and bring those suspects to police,” Dilu said.
He said they did not want to take the law into their own hands as it was always done in the past in Highlands provinces.
“So we are asking leaders at Igam Block as well those at the village back in Jiwaka to work together so that peace is achieved once and for all,” Dilu said.
He said relatives living elsewhere were cautioned not to take the matter into their own hands but contribute ideas to bring peace to the factions.
Ward 3 Upper Jimi local level government councillor Clement Martin said they would not blame people from outside for the killing of the 27-year-old, Joseph Komb but his own people.
“We have handed some suspects to police and we do not want any of our relatives to take that matter into their own hands,” he said.
Martin said what had been put before the law, would remain to bring justice to the deceased’s death.
He said the relatives of the deceased (Komb) were asking that relatives of the suspects to work with police and community leaders in rounding up others responsible for the death.
“We have to collaborate and find solutions to the matter and create lasting peace among ourselves,” Martin said.
Attempts to get comment from acting Lae Met Supt Chief Insp Chris Kunyanban was unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the body of the deceased was repatriated yesterday to his home in Jiwaka for burial.