SHP police admit they burnt houses

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POLICE have admitted burning down seven houses in a village in Southern Highlands after officers attending an event were attacked by villagers.
But provincial police commander Chief Inspector Gideon Kauke denied a claim by the villagers at Kware in the Ialibu-Pangia district that they burnt more than 50 homes.
He said police officers had been invited to witness a compensation ceremony at Karapere village.
“The people of Kware were trying to pay compensation to the people of Yanda village in the neighbouring Kagua Erave district for the death of a man in Port Moresby last year,” he said. “Pangia police were invited by the village leaders to witness the peace ceremony.
“But there was an argument when the demands made by the Yanda people were not met by the Kware villagers.
“There was a fight and in the process our officers were attacked. Two officers are admitted at the hospital with injuries.
“Two police vehicles were smashed and one was burnt.”
Kauke said police officers at the village called for backup. A group of officers and soldiers then arrived at the village.
“Seven bush houses belonging to the suspects were burnt after they refused to surrender,” he said.
He said the police officers and soldiers then returned to town.
“I believe, it was then that the people of Kagua and Erave went in and attacked the Kware people and burnt the other houses.”
But village spokesman Cornelius Lina said police were responsible.
“Our women and children fled to the mountains when police and (soldiers) came to the village and burnt our homes,” he said.
Lina called on MP and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to look into the situation.
“They should have (just) arrested those responsible for attacking the officers – not burn the whole village.”