Gov Undialu: Hela needs police presence, not knee-jerk responses to address law and order issues

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Hela governor Philip Undialu

Gov Undialu: Hela needs police presence, not knee-jerk responses to address law and order issues

PORT MORESBY: Hela governor Philip Undialu says knee-jerk short-term solutions and responses like deploying security troops and launching operations will not address law and order issues in the province.

“We need a district police station and provincial commanders,” he added.

He was commenting on the attack by thugs on the Pai Police Barracks in Tari on March 29, 2022, in which a policeman was shot dead and two others seriously injured.

Undialu called on Police Commissioner David Manning and the Personnel and Management Department to start recruiting police personnel for Hela.

The National reported Undialu’s plea to the Government and police:

Hela needs own police: Undialu

April 6, 2022The NationalMain Stories

By REBECCA KUKU
HELA Governor Philip Undialu says knee-jerk short-term solutions and responses like deploying security troops and launching operations will not address law and order issues in the province.
“We need a district police station and provincial commanders,” Undialu said.
He was commenting on the attack by thugs on the Pai Police Barracks in Tari last Tuesday in which a policeman was shot dead and two others seriously injured.
Undialu called on Police Commissioner David Manning and the Personnel Management Department to start recruiting police personnel for Hela.
“Hela has been a province for almost 10 years,” he said.
“We need to have our own police and not police manpower sent in under operations whenever there is a fight. That is a short-term solution that costs us too much money.
“We are tired of investing in such knee-jerk short-term responses.
“We need our own police.
“Our provincial police structure was approved in 2018, but since then there is still no recruitment.
“We were promised 500 police personnel. It is now 2022 and still we have no police presence.”
Undialu said the provincial government had done its part in getting the provincial police structure approved in 2018.
“We have also built police houses in anticipation for those who will come and serve in our province as policemen and women,” he said.
“We have houses in Tari, Komo, Margarima built and ready but there are no police personnel.
“We are ready to invest in capacity building and supporting them with resources such as cars but instead, we waste millions in paying allowance and hired cars for police personnel deployed whenever there is an outbreak of violence.
“At the end of the day, it’s a cat and mouse game.
“When police are deployed to Hela, the warlords go into hiding.
“When police leave, they come out again and when police return, they go back into hiding again.”
Meanwhile, Tari-Pori MP and Prime Minister James Marape said there would be no more negotiations in Hela with tribal leaders.

Tribal fights caused by minority warlords: Police

April 6, 2022The NationalMain Stories

By GEORGINA KOREI
THE ongoing tribal fights in Hela are caused by leaders of minority ethnic groups, Highlands Western End commander Assistant Commissioner John Kale says.
“If the warlords want to cease fire, it is up to them to do so and surrender,” he said.
Kale said the people should not blame Hela leaders for the law and order issues that were created by the warlords.
“We cannot call on the Tari-Pori MP (and Prime Minister James Marape) to come and bring peace,” he said.
“He is the country’s prime minister and has other bigger issues to address at the national level.
“The tribal fights can be addressed at the community level by the local leaders if they wanted to live in peace and harmony.
“I have read so many criticisms hurled at Marape on social media.
“The people of Hela who are tarnishing the reputation of our local MP and prime minister of this country should stop.
“He has so many commitments to address than dealing with the nonsense and stupidity from warlords.
“We (police) are trying our best to work with community leaders in Hela to restore peace before the issue of writs (for the general election 2022 on April 28).”

Business returns to normal

April 6, 2022The NationalNational

BUSINESS in Mt Hagen has returned to normal with a heavy police presence around the city following the school fight last Friday in which four died.
Shops opened for business and schools resumed classes yesterday.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Highlands Eastern End Rega Neggi could not be reached for comment but Western Highlands police commander Chief Superintendent Joe Puri said the situation was still tense.
Puri warned people to take precautions as violence could flare up again.
Provincial education board chairman Lawrence Pena said a team would investigate the inter-school fight.
The fight between students from Hagen Park Day and Mt Hagen Secondary brought the city to a standstill last Friday.
Both schools have suspended classes while an investigation is carried out.
“Classes in the two schools are suspended until we will find out who were involved,” Pena said.
He said it was sad that two students died.
“It is a sad situation for the province.”
Staff at the Mt Hagen Hospital confirmed that some students were still being treated for injuries.
Two bystanders were also killed and several shops looted.

Alcohol ban to be imposed

April 6, 2022The NationalNational

A BAN on alcohol will be imposed in Hela from the end of this month to the end of the general election, says Governor Philip Undialu.
Undialu told The National yesterday that the province had passed a Provincial Liquor License Act in February, giving the provincial executive council powers to regulate the sale of alcohol in the province.
He said most of the social issues in the province were caused by alcohol consumption.
“The ban will be effective on May 1,” he said.
“This is one of the steps we are taking to ensure that elections in the province go smoothly and (it is) also for the wellbeing of our people.
“All trade stores and wholesales are encouraged to sell out all their stocks by May 1. We will be issuing notices to them this month.”
Hela has been affected by tribal fights and criminal activities, the latest being in the Tari-Pori electorate where a fight between tribal leaders and police resulted in the death of a policeman and injuries to others.