PORT MORESBY – Port Moresby has averted a major fuel and power crisis after a standoff with disgruntled coastal Motu-Koitabu villagers was settled late Wednesday night after hours of negotiation.

The easing of the roadblocks at Hanuabada and Baruni has ensured that the city, critically low on fuel of all forms, can now access supply depots in the no-go zones.

Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki and other senior government officers, including acting PNG Defence Force Chief of Staff Colonel Vagi Oala, visited the Hanuabada village to negotiate for the lifting of the roadblock. The villagers, after hours of discussions, agreed to allow to end the blockade and let fuel supplies through.

The impact of roadblocks by angry villagers over the police shooting deaths of Nicholas Rarua and Toka Gaudi in broad daylight last Friday had already being felt by the city.

PNG Power had imposed power rationing after closing its fuel-generated stations at Kanudi and Moitaka because it could not refuel them. Electricity supplier Hanjung Power at Kanudi also closed shop and evacuated its foreign workers.

Airlines have not been affected but major carrier Air Niugini said the fuel situation was tight in Port Moresby and was refuelling its aircraft in outer centres, only topping up from its Port Moresby stock.

City motorists also felt the impact as service stations ran out of diesel first and then petrol.

The Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce notified its members that all fuel stations were under stress with an added problem that the long lines of vehicles were causing main road congestions.

As the city braced itself for the worst, Public Enterprises and State Investment Minister Ben Micah said he had discussed with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill the possible use of his emergency powers to remove the roadblocks.

The office of Motu-Koitabu Assembly chairman Miria Ikupu said that the roadblocks were being removed. However, his arrival in the village triggered criticism and anger with some villagers questioning his “absence” from the start of the crisis.

Police Commissioner Vaki, who successfully negotiated with the villagers, said: “Last night there were for and against arguments on whether they should remove it, and then we talked about the big picture.”

There were some villagers who showed disagreement to the opening of the roadblocks, stating that it might have been done prematurely.

Chairman of the Hanuabada Working Committee, the committee that had led the villagers during the chaos in the absence of the mandated leaders, Joshua Ako Kari, said that they didn’t agree as it defeated the whole purpose – that the plight and the concerns of the people be addressed.

“Once the six weeks investigation is up and nothing happens from the government, the road blocks will be up again and this is going to be a very serious matter,” Kari said.

The government said an independent investigation through the form of a coroner’s inquest will probe the incident at Hanuabada Village which resulted in the deaths of the two young men, allegedly by police gunfire last week. A third man was also injured in the unrest at the betel nut market.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has sanctioned a meeting headed by Chief Secretary Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc with families of the deceased and village leaders to establish terms for an inquiry.

The coronial inquest to be headed by Chief Magistrate Nerrie Eliakim will be funded by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Sir Manasupe said the compromise resulted in the removal of the road blocks which affected LNG operations, fuel and electricity supply to the city.

“Our proposal for settlement is simple. The villagers want an independent inquiry that must be conducted as soon as possible.

“The independent inquiry will find who is responsible and we will proceed from there on,” said the Chief Secretary.

Village elders including the fathers and other relatives of the deceased welcome the decision for a coronial inquest.

Sir Manasupe said the investigation will begin “soon” and is expected to have a report ready in a month’s time.

Police Commissioner Vaki also assured the people of Hanuabada that the police officers involved in the two killings last week will face the full force of the law.

“An investigation team has already been assembled and they have started work already, bringing suspects down to Boroko police station to gather information.

“I can assure everyone that these officers will be suspended and face the full force of the law,” said Vaki.

He said that the investigations into the killings would take some time and that he would not put a time frame as to when investigations would be completed.

“We are in no rush. We want to take our time to build a watertight case before we take this matter to court.

“I accept full blame for what happened and I will make sure the people responsible for the killings are brought to justice,”he said.