Hela Provincial Police Commander, Michael Welly, says Hela province needs more police manpower and not a declaration of a State of Emergency.
This follows the string of tribal clashes in various parts Hela province over the past month.
Komo Magarima MP, Francis Potape, says the SOE call will be costly. He described the announcement by Tari Pori MP, James Marape, and Koroba Kopiago MP, Philip Undialu, as misleading.
He maintained that tribal zones have been identified and local MPs should ensure that the District’s Law and Order Committee are in charge of the situation.
“Leaders should be taking care of their district’s to maintain such ethnic problems are solved by law”, said Potape.
The Komo Magarima MP also called on the PNG Prime Minister to consider his call and seek other cost cutting measures to restore normalcy in communities.
Speaking with the Hela Provincial Police Commander this afternoon, PPC Michael Welly said police on ground need support through manpower and logistics to deal with this issues. PPC Welly says fighting is happening in only a few hotspots, and police are doing their best to maintain order.
