Hela gives ultimatum to SHP leaders

The Hela Gimbu Association, on behalf of the people of Hela, has given a 10-day ultimatum to the people of Southern Highlands Province to surrender those involved in the recent killing of police officers.

The incident occurred along the Imbonggu road in Southern Highlands.

The Hela leaders gathered today in Port Moresby and shared their grievances, saying the military style ambush and killing of police officers, and wounding of another officer along with two teachers, was a terrifying action.

The leaders said such an action requires a full scale operation to bring the killers to face the full force of the law.

Hela Gimbu Association chairman Damien Arabagali condemned such an act, describing it as barbaric and preplanned murder.

Hela Administrator William Bando shared similar sentiments, calling for a reciprocal approach from the leaders of Southern Highlands. One of the deceased was Mr Bando’s brother.

He added that the Hela leaders do not want to take the law into their own hands.

Akolo Kotange, a brother of the late Andy Kotange, also called on SHP leaders to respond and deal with the matter quickly.

Representing the Hela tribe in Koroba, Thomas Phillar said Hela and Southern Highlands have been good friends for a long time but such an act by the SHP people has spoken otherwise.

The two policemen were killed in a daylight ambush last Saturday while another officer was wounded and is currently fighting for his life at the Mt Hagen hospital.

The other two teachers who were also in the vehicle escaped.

They were on their way to Tari from Mendi when they were ambushed.

The bodies of the officers will be flown to Port Moresby on Friday.


Author: 
Freddy Mou
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