By Stanley Ove Jnr – EMTV News, Alotau
Last Thursday (06 December, 2018) will go down as the worst day in the lives of residents of the Kitava Compound in Alotau, Milne Bay Province.
A scene of ash and rubbles of blazed iron sheets are all that is left after a police raid in search of criminals left over 11 homes destroyed.
Ernest Bonnell, a Deacon of the New Kitava United Church described the police act as unjust and does not reflect the image of a law and order agency.
“They tied my son and forced him out of his home, took a match from his basket and lit his home on fire,” Bonnell said.
“They fired tear gas into homes and it affected all the innocent women and children. We rushed a one day old baby to the Hospital because of the tear gas,” He added.
As the situation on the ground is somewhat back to normal, the compound residents remain in fear of another police raid.
“We are still in fear, we don’t know who will protect us,” said Samuel Luguna, the compound Chairman.
Meanwhile a petition on the matter will be presented to Alotau MP and Deputy PM Charles Abel later in the afternoon.
More updates to follow on EMTV News at 6PM
