Yesterday’s eviction exercise at the Javani settlement in Lae City, has left families there with no hope of survival.
Families were forcefully evicted from their homes, following an eviction order issued by the Morobe Provincial Government last month.
The settlers are calling on the Governor for Morobe, and the Member for Lae, to address their relocation concerns.
We are at the home of a settler, Johnny Cometa, who lost much of what he owned, during the eviction yesterday.
“The authorities should come and tell us to move in a humane way. We have invested alot in this place. We have grown trees and called this place home,” Cometa said.
He is a father of eight children and is now a grandfather who has been living in the area for more than 20 years.
Cometa said the Morobe Provincial Government should have organized a proper consultation with the settlers before carrying out the eviction.
This area used to be swampland.
When the settlers came, they turned it into what they called home, until yesterday.
The land has now been taken up by the Lae Port Development.
The settlers are now confused and stranded with no hope of survival.
A settler and a mother, Julie Kirawe said they will not move out of the area unless they get a response from the Morobe Provincial Government regarding their relocation.
” We voted for the Governor and the Lae MP and now that have turned their backs on us. Please help us,” Mrs. Kirawe said.
As at 3:30pm, houses of the settlers we interviewed were burned down by higher authorities.
The reason is not them not moving out on time, once the eviction notice was served.
https://youtu.be/PJrc1WEVZLw
1 comment
They have already served notices since year 2011, 2012, 2013, negotiations and discussion took place. But these illegal settlements yet ignoring the authority whose been loyal since day one. Plus these places are criminal hubs and items have confiscated and crime have cost lives of innocent people. Plus this a title registered land and its deemed and planned to develop. Enough is enough, this is a planned town with purpose and plan. This is a way forward.