Stop such senseless killing

 PAYBACK or revenge killings and brutalities are becoming an everyday occurrence in Papua New Guinea.

Hardly a day goes by with­out news reports about tribal and ethnic clashes that started from minor domestic or family arguments, drunken brawls or even road accidents.

While the killing of a young off-duty policeman at the Gordon market in Port Moresby on Thursday last week was not a payback or act of revenge, it highlights the imminent dangers and risks that residents and visitors encounter on the streets of this city and other crime-infested parts of the country.

We support the PNG Po­lice Association’s condemnation of the killing of probationary constable Clifford Yambeningi as well as attacks and intimidation of police officers.

As association president Leuth Nidung said police should be respected regardless of whether they are on duty. “Officers have the right to move freely without fear and intimidation.”

Nidung said police brutality was a reason for officers being targeted by members of the public. 

“People should not take cases of po­lice brutality to retaliate because only a minority is involved.”

We agree that a minority of rogue and reckless police personnel have brought the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary into disrepute with their violent behaviour and acts, which have caused much public anger and frustration.

And there’s no sign of it subsiding.

Just on Wednesday, a policeman in the National Capital District was arrested and charged with four counts of being drunk in a public place, assault, resisting arrest and using abusive language.

Probationary constable Ludger Saingre and another policeman allegedly assaulted a young woman at the Gordon bus stop on Nov 7, resulting in her sustaining severe facial cuts and bruises.

Saingre was charged with swearing at a senior policewoman after she attempted to rescue the helpless victim. 

The policewoman called for backup and the two abusive policemen were arrested by some detectives, but Saingre escaped at the police station and was rearrested on Tuesday at the Gordon Police Station.

Director of Crimes Chief Superintendent Peter Guinness says because of the constant reports of police brutality cases, instructions will be issued to all CID units to step up investigations into such allegations and ensure police personnel implicated in such crimes are prosecuted and sacked from the Constabulary.

It’s encouraging to note that the police hierarchy are taking a no-nonsense approach, with Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki imposing a zero-tolerance on police bru­tality.

By the same token, how much longer will the country tolerate senseless killings, brutalities and destruction of property? Is payback killing a feature of Melanesian culture that should be condoned and allowed to prevail in this day and age?

The Criminal Code is quite explicit about such law­less behaviour and clearly stipulates that an act of revenge that leads to the death of an innocent person or persons is an offence that carries a severe penalty.

Despite the legal ramifications, ethnic and tribal groups continue to take the law into their hands through payback killings and destruction of property. 

The recent ethnic clashes in Lae city are a glaring example of the age-old payback tendencies and acts of revenge that are allowed to persist in the country’s industrial hub. The capital city of Port Moresby and other centres have had their fair share of ethnic troubles and will continue to face this problem until the payback mentality is eradicated from these irrational and lawless minds.

While the police should be commended for enforcing the law on payback killings and other acts of revenge, the onus should not be squarely placed on their shoulders. Other concerned groups or stakeholders should take a greater interest in this issue and play their part in changing the people’s attitudes and behaviour. 

In particular, Christian church organisations in this country seem to have ignored these ethnic conflicts. 

It would be even better if the churches practice what they preach by doing more to change the people’s mindset on payback killings and ethnic violence.