Supporters released from police custody

By JIMMY KALEBE
FIVE people arrested in Gagidu, Finschhafen in Morobe after a confrontation on June 19 between supporters of two candidates have been released from custody, police say.
According to provincial commander Superintendent Jacob Singura, the five were freed after supporters of the affected candidate came to an understanding that the supporters of the other candidate and the candidate himself would pay compensation any damage.
Singura said on Friday that the rival groups gathered for a peace ceremony at Gagidu.
“The affected supporters and their candidate demanded K700,000 to settle for the burning of a Toyota LandCruiser, theft of tools and injuries caused to one of the supporters,” he said. However, on July 1 when the compensation was to be paid, the affected supporters and their candidate came to understand that only K120,000 in cash was to be offered with 14 pigs and garden and store goods.
He said the affected supporters then rejected that compensation payment and asked that the full payment of K700,000 had to be met before peace and reconciliation could be made.
The peace ceremony was then postponed until after the election.
Supporters of a candidate in Finschhafen was attacked at Mindik village, Pindiu on June 19, resulting in a man being seriously injured, a vehicle torched, tools stolen and supporters taking cover in the bush.
The incident happened during polling.