Unrest in city

The National Main Stories

By REBECCA KUKU
TWO men were shot dead and others injured during a clash between police and residents of a settlement in Port Moresby over the weekend, disrupting traffic and damaging a few passing vehicles.
Police Minister Bryan Kramer, acting Police Commissioner David Manning and National Capital District police commander talked to the people yesterday morning to calm the situation down, and managed to persuade the relatives of the two men to allow traffic to flow again on the main highway.
“We promised them that we will undertake a full investigation into the incident, and deal with everyone involved. If any member of the Constabulary has broken the law, he or she will be dealt with severely.
“There are reportedly two deaths so far and I do not wish for more deaths or injuries to occur nor do I want to see more damage done to both public and private property.
“I am appealing for calm and common sense to prevail while the investigation gets underway. The situation is still tense and details are sketchy at this point in time.”
Some locals claimed that a group of police officers had started the trouble on Thursday evening when they allegedly demanded money and liquor from shop owners. The officers had gone to the area to investigate complaints that certain shops were involved in bootlegging.

The scene under the Flyover bridge in Erima, Port Moresby yesterday morning as people run towards the airport side of the highway.The officers were met with resistance and a fight broke out.
“Police reinforcements were called in to contain the situation. In the process two members of the Erima community were killed and members of the commuting public were attacked by Erima settlers on Saturday and again this (yesterday) morning,” Manning said.

9 comments

  • I am always against the police action. But now I see the other side of the coin. We, the citizens don’t abaide the rules and regulations and the laws of this country. Police act because of our stupidity. We make the police work harder. We want to go on as if there are no laws.

  • Whilst there are some very rouge police personnel, we the people must also be equally blamed.
    We think we are above the rule of law & can do anything we like. We hide our criminal wantoks, we benefit from criminal activities, we disregard the rule of law, mitigate respect for our neighbors and encourage unethical behaviour among our younger generations.
    While we are at liberty to criticize police actions we are not at liberty to avoid the consequences of our own ignorance of our own young folks.

  • Vagrants are occupying this area and making it as a home. It was and is still an eye sore. It is a breeding ground for petty criminals. Bring the vagrancy act into effect and send those people hanging around in settlements without proper jobs back home.

  • The tendency for us Papua New Guineans to take side with our wantoks despite that they have broken laws must stop. Police must not be prevented to protect the good people and properties. In most cases policemen are driven into the excessive use of force and brutality
    because they were the only options. Good people don’t necessarily get into trouble with the police. Those people at the settlement got into trouble with the police because they are bad people. Nobody should be siding with them – let the police officers do their work. Put them behind bars. PNG would be a little more safer minus them.

  • police brutality is common everywhere where there is no one is watching and certain officers get away easily cos fear of their lives to protect themselves. First of all Cops must understand and work on individual basis or certain people who are causing problems than blaming entire ethnic group. Infact majority of people are law abiding citizens and they can’t blame on everyone and starting shooting innocent people to cover themselves. Better investigate and get the culprits to justice. We can’t blame settlement issue as violence state. That’s NCD and PNG Govt Issue to relocate settlers with affordable housing for them. As far as law and order is concerned cops and citizens should be subject to the same law of our country and No one is above the law

  • only people Study ,Work ,residence can Stay in NCD others must deport to their home provinces .if NCD governer do this this kind of problems not come

  • Really hard to control both parties but thank you Hon.Minister Mr.Brian Kramer for your time and effort to calm down the situation.
    Condolences to the dead party of the family and congratulations to Minister.

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