By Jim John
More than 100 people who have been evicted from nearby settlements in Tabubil, North Fly District of Western Province were flown back to their home provinces since December 2023.
The deportation exercise was carried out following the ethnic clash between the Tari’s and Engans last year, hence Western leaders want normalcy in the province.
Western Provincial Police Commander for North Fly Command, Chief Inspector Oena Afeke says eviction exercise has started in Tabubil and will continue in Ningerum station, 72 kilometers along the Kiunga-Tabubil highway including Kiunga in the coming months.
“Settlers who want to stay in Western Province must respect the rules and laws governing the society. Western is not a fighting zone, therefore, you must respect other people,” Afeke said.
He added that all stakeholders in the province are continuing to work together to send the settlers back to their home provinces.
Chief Inspector Afeke has warned locals in Western Province not to create social issues that may cause disruption to their lives and the province as a whole.
He further added that joint security forces that includes Police and PNG Defense Force personnel based in Kiunga have been tasked to carry out their operation in North Fly, therefore anyone who misbehaves will be dealt with accordingly.
