Easter violence: 4 dead
April 6, 2021The NationalMain Stories
By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
VIOLENCE over the Easter weekend claimed four lives in Papua New Guinea with three of the deaths related to alleged police brutality.
The killings were reported in New Ireland, Central and Manus (two cases).
New Ireland commander Chief Insp Maurice Itoro told The National that two deaths were reported there on Friday morning.
According to initial police investigations, a man from Hela had finished drinking with his friends and was walking home when he was stopped by policemen.
It was alleged that the man was assaulted metres from the mine site gate where he died from the multiple injuries.
In the hours after his death, the public, mainly from other provinces, congregated near where he died and blocked off the road access.
The death sparked looting that led to a second man being shot, allegedly by police, who were trying to disperse the crowd.
The police provincial commander arrived in town on Saturday with the Mobile Squad 18 unit from Tomaringa Mobile Base in Kokopo to bring the situation under control.
Chief Insp Itoro said the allegations against the policemen would be investigated with no compensation demands to be entertained “while investigations are ongoing”.
“That is why I have three neutral investigators to probe the first death.
“They are now recording statements from witnesses.
“I have rejected the compensation demands for two deaths, one from Hela’s Tari and the other from Morobe where a man was shot during an illegal protest and rioting to burn down a police station and damaged four company vehicles.
“They were confronting the police and tried to enter the shopping area and company compound when they were dispersed by police who fired warning shots resulting in the second death,” he added.
Four suspects have been arrested and are being held in police station lock-ups.
More protest leaders are likely to be arrested, also for looting, Chief Insp Itoro said adding that investigations into the first death was still ongoing.
In Central, it was alleged that a youth was picked up by policemen in an unmarked vehicle on March 28 along the Hiritano Highway.
His family conducted a search for him but failed.
However, the youth’s body was found at the Tapini junction on Saturday and taken to the Port Moresby General Hospital for a post-mortem.
The National’s efforts to get police comments were not responded to by the NCD/Central Command and the Central Police Command.
In Manus, a 23-year-old accountant from China was found slumped in a chair in a shop with a gunshot wound in the head.
Manus commander Chief Insp David Yapu said a Glock 9mm pistol was found on the floor in a pool of blood near him
Manus CID are investigating.
The firearm was registered and owned by someone else.
Police have sent the pistol for ballistic tests and the body to Lorengau General Hospital for an autopsy.
“The Chinese embassy was informed of the death and we are working with them to repatriaten the body,” Chief Insp Yapu said.
Meanwhile, a suspect was arrested for marijuana possession in Manus.
Chief Insp Yapu a 32-year-old man from East Sepik’s Maprik was arrested and charged with drug possession.
Practise ethics, police told
April 6, 2021The NationalMain Stories
Maintain discipline: Wagambie
NCD/CENTRAL Commander ACP Anthony Wagambie Jr said young officers, men and women must prioritise work ethics and professionalism to uphold the image of the force.
“There have been too many criticisms levelled at the police because of a few ‘bad apples’ among us.
“If we do our job ethically and professionally, this will not happen,” he said in a briefing with police Fox Units in the city at the airport station on Friday.
He stressed that the recent criticisms levelled against Fox Units saw a need for all to conduct themselves as expected of them by the public.
“Many of us have been through this when we were young and had the excitement or ‘fire’ in us.
“But we want you younger men and women to do better than us when we were at your age.
“Start being ethical and conduct yourselves professionally.
“We also cannot fight crime alone.
“We need the cooperation of communities.
“We must ask ourselves, what is the purpose of wearing a police uniform? Do we love our job?
“Are we here to serve?
“Or are we just opportunists looking for employment and was lucky enough to get into the Constabulary.”
“If you are an opportunist, then you are in the wrong place.
“Being a policeman or woman is not just a job.
“It is it is a lifetime vocation.
“You have to love it to be in it,” ACP Wagambie said.
“I urge everyone here to recite the Police Code of Ethics.
“I know, all of us have forgotten along the way.
We must remind ourselves from time to time why we are here,” he added.
“The Met Supt and I will visit zone by zone to meet Fox members and conduct the same.
“It is our police force, only we can make it better to serve us when we leave for civilian life.”
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