Wewak

This annual mission is one of the largest in the Indo-Pacific region.

CDA Monahan emphasised the importance of the mission, highlighting the collaboration between the U.S. and Papua New Guinea, stating, "Pacific Partnership's work, including medical care, community education, and disaster relief preparedness, exemplifies the partnership between our nations, in line with the U.S.-Papua New Guinea Defense Cooperation Agreement."

The first suspect Junior David Polis, a 24-year-old from Madang and New Ireland, was arrested and charged for a series of crimes including armed robbery, burglary, threatening a female with a factory-made firearm, rape, and several cases of stealing and armed hold-ups.

He had escaped from police custody at Jomba Police Cell on three separate occasions. After being shot and hospitalized, he was arrested again and remanded at Beon Correctional Service in Madang, but later escaped. He was recaptured by police in Wewak earlier this month.

According to East Sepik Provincial Police Commander Superientenat Christopher Tamari the Chinese Businessman namely Tuan Chen who owns the King's Club near the Old Airstrip near Nuiguo was arrested and charged with having in his possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Tamari said on December 11, 2021, he was arrested and charged under Section 27 (1) (a) of the Firearms Act, Chapter 310. He further added that on December 16, 2022, Chen appeared at the Wewak District court and was convicted by the court.

After being turned away for not having her name in the common roll, she sat outside the polling area together with many other women and young men and women who stayed around all day hoping the officials would somehow create some way for them to vote.

She was not alone in this. Another concerned voter, Peter Maru who was able to vote but was concerned that a very small number of voters only were able to vote.  

However, after some hours, the clouds moved and the rain stopped, but there was a gloom that continued in the hearts of the citizens who would not be voting to fulfill their democratic rights, because their names weren’t on the electoral roll the officials had.

It was on the first day, Tuesday 5^th July when voters were turned away at the polling sites.

Provincial Police Commander Albert Beli said the deceased pair had allegedly gone there with another friend, to look for gold. The deceased were identified as John San 23, from Wingei 1, Yangoru District, and Jacob Aikon 40, from Kreer Village in Wewak.

According to police reports, the three men went to the tunnel on Sunday 19 June. They took with them a water pump and a metal detector. The third man however felt uneasy and refused to go into the tunnel. He told police he left his two friends at the tunnel and returned.

East Sepik Provincial Police Commander, Albert Beli said the police officers on the Christmas operation received information of the production of homebrew at a settlement near the Mobil area.

He said police officers then acted on the information and proceeded to the location and arrested the woman while she was brewing homebrew inside her house, while her husband escaped.

The man ran away when he saw the police while the woman was busy with her business when the police arrived.

East Sepik Governor Allan Bird led the delegation of provincial and national leaders, in receiving the casket of the late founding father.

Outside the airport carpark hundreds gathered to witness this momentous occasion. 

The people of Sepik cried as the ADF C27 aircraft landed and casket was carried out. 

A guard of honor was carried out by the PNG Defense Force.

Prime Minister James Marape, who travelled to Wewak aboard the Q400 aircraft, handed over casket of the late Grand Chief, to Governor Bird.

“I encourage people that there is no need to come. You can visit the grave site later,” Governor Bird said.

Earlier this month, Governor Bird raised concerns of COVID-19 community transmission, when thousand will gather in Wewak to welcome the late Grand Chief home. 

He stated that the town will be expecting 100 thousand plus Sepiks in Wewak, and 10 thousand more from other provinces – social distancing will be a problem in trying to exercise COVID-19 prevention measures.

Port Moresby residents have lined the streets to Jackson’s airport to bid farewell the Founding Father of Papua New Guinea, for the last time. 

The body of the late Grand Chief will depart at about midday today. 

His casket will be boarded on the Q400 aircraft for Air Niugini.

Members of Parliament, including the Prime Minister and the Governor for East Sepik are already in Wewak, to receive the casket. 

Different tribes from the Great Sepik Region are already in Wewak.