Sialum fighting continuing

By JIMMY KALEBE
FRESH fighting has started again among villagers of Tewae-Siassi’s Sialum in Morobe over the last two weeks, resulting in an unconfirmed number of deaths and houses razed, according to police.
Morobe police commander Chief Supt Jacob Singura said fighting among villagers had been going on for some time.
“Since fighting started there towards the end of last year, lives have been lost, food gardens and other cash crops and livestock lost, houses as well as other properties burnt, people have been living in makeshifts in the bush,” he said.
Singura said the Tewae-Siassi administration has been briefed on the issues.
“Police are trying their best to contain the situation, but still need support financially to effectively contain the situation.”
Singura said nine suspects were taken in by Finschhafen police and were locked up in the police cell at Gagidu.
Six of them are murder suspects and the other three are suspected of being involved in cult practices.
“They have been formally arrested and charged with their police record of interview completed.”
Singura said the only delay is for assistance to transport them into Lae to appear in courts.
According to Finschhafen Police Station commander Insp Dominic Livar, a cost submission for transporting the suspects into Lae had been made to the administration.
“We are just waiting when funds are available, we will transport the suspects to Lae to appear before the courts,” Livar said.
Regarding the fighting between Gerup and Nunzeng, two persons were recently killed while houses from both villages were razed.
“People are homeless and are taking refuge either in the bush or at Sialum Station. This is a man-made disaster that needs immediate intervention from the authorities,” Livar said.
Livar described the situation on the ground as “getting out of hand”.