Settlers: No eviction will restore order

By JAYNE SAFIHAO
SEPIK settlement leaders in Madang are adamant that eviction exercises are not the solution to law and order problems.
They want to be resettled.
This was among issues raised last Saturday during a consultative meeting between leaders of Sepik settlements in portion 50, 51 and section 116. This included the area between airport and Biliau Maus Rot, public tank, Mero dump and Madang Teachers College.
Settlers’ spokesman Saun Dambui said that the first eviction in 2003 did not succeed because the settlers had sought compensation from the state.
“These settlers are still here.
“If the provincial government does not have the funding to repatriate them, it should allocate blocks in portion 51 where working settlers can settle,” he said.
Dambui also raised concern over the shoot-to-kill order recently issued by provincial police commander Anthony Wagambie Jr.
He said there were other options available and one was the establishment of a volunteer family eviction concept.
“The head of each family will sign
a consent form to move out when a member of their household breaks the law.
“The other is to revive the once-successful auxiliary policing programme headed by current highway patrol boss, Snr Const Adam Yawing.”
He said while community leaders had committed themselves to working with police, “police will always come up with the excuse of “no fuel or no vehicle” when we call them”.
“If Wagambie Jr is serious about fighting crime, he should seriously
consider our suggestions,” Dambui said.