Thugs spoil Xmas fun

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
A GROUP of thugs dressed in police and military uniforms robbed two shops on a remote island in Milne Bay last Thursday, leaving its inhabitants without food for Christmas, officials say.
Samarai-Murua district officials on the island, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the group of about 20 arrived in three dinghies on Misima Island at around 4.30pm.
“The criminals in police and defence force uniforms came from (the direction of) Alotau district on the mainland in three dinghies and held up two shops at Bwagaoia station,” one official said.
“They also ordered the people to join in the looting. The remaining two shops closed in fear of being looted.”
The officials estimate that about 20,000 people live on Misima Island who once worked on its multi-million kina gold mine that closed down in 2004.
The group of thugs also robbed the only fuel depot on the island and later stole two dinghies. The officials said the group then escaped to a “remote area of the island” where they could still be staying because they had not returned to the main land.
Police on Misima are unable to do anything because they have limited manpower and firearms.
“It now seems that people will also not celebrate the New Year because all the four shops which serve them on Misima are closed,” another official said.
In response to the incident, he said the Samarai-Murua district development authority allocated K50,000 to police to track down the criminals.
“But the public accounts are closed and we cannot raise the cheque,” he said.
Acting provincial police commander Inspector George Bayagau could not be reached for a comment yesterday.
But he recently said the provincial law and order committee had resolved that the province’s five MPs raise K1 million for a police operation on Christmas and to also clamp down on sea piracy.
The five are Governor John Luke Crittin, Kiriwina-Goodenough MP Douglas Tomuriesa, Esa’ala MP Davis Steven, Alotau MP Charles Abel, and Samarai-Murua MP Isi Leonard.
“The committee passed the resolution early this month,” Bayagau said.
“The MPs will have to allocate K200,000 each from their electoral funds to fund the Christmas and New Year operation.”
“This operation also includes the hunting down of the notorious criminal Tommy Baker Maeva and his gang.”
The Christmas operation began on Dec 14.
“I have contacted the Water Police director to have a team engaged in the festive operation.
“It is a maritime province and there will be a lot of travelling by sea.
“We believe that there will be an increase in piracy activities during this season.”