Youths pledge for peace

By GYNNIE KERO
MORE than 200 youths in the Transgogol area of Madang surrendered their homemade guns and homebrew making equipment to police on Monday.
Madang police commander Supt Mazuc Rubiang yesterday said the people of Transgogol wanted to restore peace and normalcy in the area.
He said police would still carry out investigations on crimes committed but thanked those involved in the surrendering of arms and reconciliation.
Supt Rubiang acknowledged Madang MP Bryan Kramer for funding the police team deployed to Transgogol and Ambenob areas as well as the local community and church leaders.
He said reconciliation ceremony followed a week-long law and order awareness conducted by police in ward eight of Transgogol LLG covering the Gonowa area which began on Aug 31. It was spearheaded by Kramer and his officers.
Kramer, who is also Police Minister, and his team, were assisted by Gonowa village court magistrate Bamia Kuti and former Gonowa gang leader Smith Taib.
Supt Rubiang said the surrender of firearms, ammunition and homebrew making equipment at the Gonowa village was a major breakthrough in reestablishing the rule of law and order in the Transgogol area which had seen a spate of brutal killings over the last two years.
He said most of the deaths had been the result of people fighting against cult groups in the area.
Supt Rubiang said the law and order issues had impacted the delivery of vital government services such as health and education as well as development.
Taib told the gathering of over 2,000 people that the youths from Gonowa had had enough of fighting, destruction and communities living in constant fear, and wanted peace.
Taib said his group had taken up arms to fight against cult groups who were terrorising the area.
“We could not sit by and watch helplessly as these men continued to terrorise and destroy our community,” he said.
“That was the reason I had to mobilise young men in my area and modify homemade guns to challenge those terrorising our community.”