Tkatchenko stoned

The National Main Stories

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
NATIONAL Housing and Urban Development Minister Justin Tkatchenko was injured when angry former National Housing Corporation (NHC) flat dwellers started pelting stones at the authorities during an eviction operation in Gordon yesterday.
It rained stones for about 10 minutes and Tkatchenko, who was caught in the melee, was hit in right leg and was seen limping away for cover.
Police had to fire warning shots in the air to disperse the former residents who were retaliating against the city rangers who were trying to evict them.
Tkatchenko said: “I got hit by a big stone. I can’t walk properly now. Stones were flying everywhere as the melee went out of control.”
Tkatchenko and other government officials were present at the scene to address about 2,000 former flat dwellers when the fracas and melee broke out.
The National Capital District Commission (NCDC) was trying to demolish the former NHC property that was condemned as a health hazard.
The landowner had also obtained a court order to evict the flat dwellers.
Tkatchenko, in addressing the former residents, said: “This eviction should be carried out in a humanitarian way. We have to look into the way this (former NHC) property was sold to businessman Mathew Minape in 2008 by the former NHC management.

Left: A resident of the former National Housing Corporation flats talking with Housing Minister Justin Tkatchenko
and Northeast MP John Kaupa at Gordon, Port Moresby yesterday.
– Nationalpic by CLIFFORD FAIPARIK

“I did not know about this eviction. It is a very unfortunate situation that we are here today.
Although the demolition was scheduled, the Port Moresby Metropolitan police commander Supt Perou N’dranou had said that the NCDC would not be allowed to demolish the flats till next Monday (July 22).
“This is to give time to those being evicted to sort out their personal matters and also to look at legal avenues that they may want to take. “And for those who want to move, they can do so without being harassed.”
Tkatchenko said he had met and discussed with Moresby North-East MP John Kaupa, NCD Governor Powes Parkop and Minape to come up with an amicable eviction exercise. “We are all human beings. We are not dogs on the street. And so we have to do this eviction in a proper and professional manner.
“So, I thank the police for their understanding. But let’s all respect the law, we will let you know what comes next. At the end of the day, your living condition is not good. The buildings are run down and you can’t live like this for the rest of your lives. We need to upgrade (this place). This is what the NHC will do in the next two years,” he added.
The residents had filed a court order against NHC, Minape and Money Talks Limited on June 30, 2008 claiming that there was an element of conspiracy and fraud against the NHC, Minape and Money Talks in relation to the sale of the flats.
However, the National Court ruled in favour of Minape on Feb 14 and ordered the eviction of the residents.