By Martha Louis – EMTV News, Madang
More than 200 people residing at the Morobe Governor’s official residence are still waiting to be resettled by the Provincial G
Deputy Chairman of the Sialum Community, Tusi Mupangke, says they had sought legal advice and had issued a court order to the Provincial Government and police. The court order is to prevent authorities from evicting them and also to resettle them following the right process, under an MOU signed in 2017.
It’s almost 4 years since more than 400 displaced settlers at Lae’s Boundary road were moved to the Morobe Governor’s official residence after a clash erupted between two factions in 2015. The fighting resulted in several houses burnt and at least 3 men killed with others seriously injured.
Today, at least 200 displaced men, women and children are still leaving there. Some had to build temporary shelters to live in.
Sialum Community spokesman, Tusi Mupangke, told
The displaced settlers have sought legal representation and a court order was issued to the Provincial Government and police not to evict them without helping them resettle.
The settlers plan to take the matter to court on human rights’ grounds as it has been 3 years 6 months they have been waiting in vain for resettlement.
Meanwhile, the Morobe Provincial Government has allocated K1 million in its 2019 budget towards the renovation and maintenance of state residences. This includes the Morobe Governor’s official residence.
The displaced settlers who also knew about the budget allocation has also taken it into consideration and wants to work with the Provincial Government and the relevant authorities to help them resettle.E
