A near confrontation in Port Moresby yesterday following anther eviction by police.
This time about four thousand people from a settlement in Waigani Arts stoodtheir ground. A tense situation was defused when Assistant Police Commissioner Jim Andrews intervened.
A company owned by a politician is believed to have organised police to conductthe eviction.
Followingthe failed eviction,the settlers held a protest with banners and placards calling for the police to stop carrying out illegal evictions. Men, women and children paintedtheir bodies with mud to show sorrow of being taken away fromthe placethey call home.
The Waigani Arts centre settlers expressed disgust atthe police behaviours.
The company claimingthe land is believed to be for a Port Moresby politician.
Bet since last yearthe settlers took out injunctive orders and successfully blocked any evictions to take place since.
However, on Tuesday this weekthe matter went back beforethe Court and it was dismissed, based on technical grounds.
Alice Thomas, National EMTV News
https://youtube.com/watch?v=hncOEC37Tj0%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
