Villagers harbouring criminals

TARI – People in Papua New Guinea must stop harbouring criminals and sabotaging police work, acting Hela provincial police commander Chief Supt Mark Yangen said.

Yangen said after criminals commit a crime, they dash off and take refuge in the villages.

He said when police go in pursuit of them, the villagers do not cooperate in handing suspects to the police to face justice in the court of law.

He said as a result pay-back killing is prevalent throughout Hela province with a recent upsurge of lawless and violent activities.

Yangen said a tribal fight was happening at the remote Fugwa village in Koroba where two people are already confirmed killed.

Yangen led police and PNG Defence Force soldiers in to the remote area in an unsuccessful attempt to quell the fighting.

He said the tribes involved have taken their battle into the jungle making it impossible for the police and soldiers to go in and talk for a cease fire.

He said police were keeping watch on the security at public properties like the Fugwa primary school, the health centre, mission station and the airstrip that serves the area.

Yangen said nearly all law breaking incidents are caused by a minority and therefore appealed to all Hela leaders to assist police in surrendering criminals, murderers, rapists and other thugs.

He said only when these culprits are handed over to the police and courts, there would be no more pay-back killings and lawlessness in Hela.