By Theckla Gunga – EM TV News, Port Moresby
Police in Eastern Highlands have been urged to remain neutral following the court battle, on the provincial administrator’s position, between Samson Akunai and Solomon Tato.
Acting Police Commissioner, Jim Andrews, issued the directions to police officers in Eastern Highlands to ensure law and order is maintained in the provincial capital, Goroka.
“The role of police is to protect lives and properties and ensure the preservation of peace and good order in the communities,” the Acting Police Commissioner Andrews said.
Andrews gave the orders to both the Northern Divisional and the Eastern Highlands Provincial Police Commanders to execute.
He said the police hierarchy was concerned because many times police personnel are dragged into such situations by parties or individuals with self-interests, and motives, and thus his instructions are for police men and women to remain neutral and allow the debate to be battled out in court.
Last month, the Waigani National Court ordered former provincial administrator, Solomon Tato, to take office after he was cleared from misappropriation allegations made against him in 2014.
