Tribesmen shut h’way in Jiwaka

 By JAMES APA GUMUNO

MEMBERS of a tribe have blocked a section of the highway in Jiwaka to protest the death of one of them in police custody last weekend.

Provincial police commander Superintendent Joseph Tondop confirmed the incident, saying a team of detectives from Port Moresby would be requested to investigate the matter.

The roadblocks in parts of South Waghi district are affecting the movement of traffic between Chimbu, Jiwaka and Western Highlands.

The Berepka tribesmen living near the Kurumul provincial headquarters put up the roadblocks after one of their tribesmen was found dead in the Banz police station cell on Sunday morning.

Tribe spokesman Thomas Tumbe said Sadrack McWinden, an heavy equipment fitter, was taken in by police on Saturday night after an argument with officers over the blinker light on the roof of his construction service vehicle.

He said McWinden was driving back from the project site at Mt Elibari in Chuave district at night with three people.

They were stopped by a police highway patrol and told to remove light on the roof.

Tumbe alleged that a police officer punched McWinden in the face.

“After this incident, he and his colleagues continued their journey home, 20km away,” he said.

Tumbe alleged that the officers followed him to his house and again punched him and his uncle, Ata Luke.

McWinden died around 5.30am on Sunday.

Tondop said McWinden was arrested after he tried to mobilise his tribesmen to attack the police officers. “I will call for an independent investigation team from Port Moresby to come and investigate the death,” he said.

Tondop appealed to the Berepka tribesmen to clear the roadblock because it was a national highway.