Namah tells PM to ‘take back Tari first

By Isaac Nicholas - Post Courier

Prime Minister James Marape must “Take back Tari first before you take back PNG”, opposition leader Belden Namah told Parliament yesterday. The alternate Prime Minister, Mr Namah asked the Prime Minister to tell Parliament what had happened to investigations into the massacre of 24 men, women and children in his electorate this year. Mr Namah said an entire community including two pregnant mothers and children were reported killed in Munima, Peta and Karida villages in Tagali LLG between South Koroba and Tari on July 7. High powered guns were reportedly used in the fighting. “The shocking scene was brutal and ghastly, even by the standards of tribal warfare which happens often in many parts of our country,” Mr Namah told Parliament. He said the Prime Minister said at the time: “I am coming for you.” Mr Namah said a few weeks back, Hela Governor Philip Undialu and the Commander of the Defence Force celebrated a guns handover ceremony with locals in Komo, Hela. Mr Namah’s questions included: (.)Can the Prime Minister tell us whether or not any of the Tari killers been caught? And can he update Parliament. (.) Can the Prime Minister tell Parliament why we seem to be celebrating arms handovers in the province when we should be arresting every person with a gun? (.) What is the bigger message our Prime Minister is giving to PNG and the world by allowing a guns handover ceremony? You can kill and mutilate people and then we will ask you to hand over guns in a ceremony?” (.)Can the Prime Minister inform Parliament of law and order policies and of how he intends to take our cities and towns back from hoodlums, criminals and trigger-happy policemen? (.) And finally, can the Prime Minister tell us why he asks each of us to take back Papua New Guinea if he cannot take back Tari Pori? Mr Marape in response said what happen in Tari is a result of many years of neglect and problems faced as population grows but the economy has not corresponded with it. “The lack of police action in Tari is an indication to us, that the statistics we are faced with is nationwide. The Opposition leader’s view is that we step up and contain the law and order situation. Tari and Hela is home to 400,000 people with only 60 policemen. Statistics show one policemen to 7000 people. What has emerged is a symptom of a society that has absolutely little presence of law enforcement or the total government law and justice sector working. “Areas that anchor our current economy at present has minimal presence in the law and justice sector. “These projects continue to survive by the goodwill of the people, without leadership on the ground. “This is a sad point in time for 22, 24 or even one life is important and should not be lost at the hand of a mercenary. “One cosmetic approach will not be a permanent solution to the endemic problem. “Our nation is faced with the threat of insecurity from within our domestic ends, the prevalence of guns amongst us not only for the Hela province, but guns as a migratory species that moves from province to province, district to district hands to hands, and the mercenaries make good money out of this. “This parliament has it in our disposal to discuss, debate in total clarity to find a solution to this issue. “If it’s not a threat today, it will be a threat for us tomorrow.”


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