Settlers at Butt lose 30 houses, trade store

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Tuesday 24th January 2012

By PISAI GUMAR
CHIMBU settlers at Messrs Butt alluvial gold mining lease settlement between Bulolo and Wau, Morobe, lost personal items and homes worth thousands of kina after an argument over a woman suspected for practising sorcery.
Simbu spokesperson Waine Bai Kabia said 30 houses and a trade store were burnt down while six people, three men and three women, suffered injuries when fighting erupted.
Waine said the Chimbu woman was accused of practising sorcery leading to the death of a child.
When news of the death reached the lease holder, Nelson Mulliong, he immediately called for all Simbus to move out of the area within 24 hours, setting the deadline for 7am last Friday.
Messrs Butt is mainly occupied by people from Finschhafen and Chimbu.
Last Saturday, relatives of the deceased went on a rampage, destroying and burning property belonging to Simbus, leaving them homeless as most had to flee to Bulolo and Lae.
The few Simbus left behind were living in makeshift shelters.
“Police from Wau intervened and calmed tensions but none of the suspects were arrested,” Waine said.
Wau police station commander Mathew Kawa confirmed the incident, saying 11 houses had been torched.
“Police investigations indicated that the confrontation was between relatives of the deceased and the accused sorcerer from Chimbu,” Kawa said.
“Many people, especially women and
children, are traumatised.”
He appealed to church and charity organisations to help the homeless with clothes, beddings and cooking utensils.