Squatters eviction deferred: MP

MADANG MP Bryan Kramer says the planned eviction of settlers from the Nagada settlement in Madang has been deferred to Wednesday next week.
This is because members of the police mobile squad in Lae have not arrived in Madang to provide security.
About 3,000 people from 693 homes will be evicted in compliance with an order issued by the National Court in Madang.
“The eviction was planned for Jan 15 but has been deferred to Jan 20 to await the arrival of the North Mobile Group from Lae.
“They had to attend the PPC’s funeral in Manus,” he said.
“The PPC (Supt Mazuc Rubiang) will still travel to Nagada to make a formal announcement that the eviction will go ahead.”
Earlier this week, Kramer told The National that the Lutheran church, which owned the land, had to take the matter to court in 2017 when squatters refused to move out.
“To avoid any issues arising from the eviction, I decided to get involved to ensure eviction was carried out properly to avoid any human rights abuses.”