Explosive tension in Alotau as manhunt intensifies for Tommy Baker

 News that matter in Papua New Guinea 

Correctional Services wardens meeting inmates inside Milne Bay’s Giligili Prison, outside Alotau. Fugitive Tommy Maeva Baker’s mother, aunt and uncle have been remanded here after appearing in the Alotau court on harbouring charges.

 Explosive tension in Alotau as manhunt intensifies for Tommy Baker

PORT MORESBY: Alotau is no in high security alert following the April 39 attack and burnung down of police barracks by some 70 Tommy Baker Gang members.

A police manhunt was launched with soldiers and to date 41 suspected gang members and allies have been captured as the search intensified.

Tension and fear of another attack rose after police arrested and charged Baker’s mother, aunt and uncle with harbouring the most wanted fugitive.

And the situation is worsening and chaotic as settlements in Alotau town are being torn down and settlers evicted.

PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces a breaking news update published by The National:

Chaos in Alotau

May 19, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
POLICE Commissioner David Manning says there are no eviction orders given for police to conduct any such evacuation or evictions in Milne Bay’s Alotau.
He told The National that police were not involved in such activities.
“I will be in the province (today) to see for myself what is happening on the ground,” he said.
Comm Manning was responding to queries raised by the Milne Bay SME Incorporated and the Milne Bay Friends Foundation on the “breaches on humanitarian rights” after house were destroyed in an eviction exercise in Alotau.
Families and businesses have been affected by the April 30 clash between police and Tommy Baker’s gang members which allegedly led to the recent eviction exercise.
Foundation president Allan Baniyamai said the evictions were carried out without consideration for the welfare of the families who had settled in the area for years.
Supported by Robert Igara and Kiriwina-Goodenough MP Douglas Tomuresia, Baniyamai said the settlements in Alotau were being targeted by police.
“The settlements along the peripheries of Alotau are Daga, Musa, Suau and Kitava, all located on customary land,” he said. “Many of the families were invited by the customary landowners to build their houses there.
“Some have paid for land and some continue to pay for their occupation.
“So, why is the State now calling on the residents of these areas to pull down their houses and leave?”
But police in Milne Bay said the eviction was a voluntary exercise driven by the provincial government.
“The Government came up with a 60-day plan and allocated funds accordingly for voluntary repatriation,” a police statement said.
“Security forces are working with the provincial government to facilitate the plan.
“We advised the Government on security risks and implications and the decision was made by the provincial government.”
The Milne Bay SME Incorporated in a letter to Comm Manning stated that “children have been traumatised, schools have been disrupted, businesses are losing income to support operations and sustain their families, parents are growing weary
and fearful of how they will continue to care for their families”.
“Employees are losing jobs and/or paid hours with the disruptions to work attendance,” it said.
“Properties are being damaged, innocent sons and daughters of Milne Bay are caught between law enforcers, law breakers and an inept provincial government failing miserably to consider the welfare of their people.”