Mt Bosavi

One female hostage has been released by the armed criminals in Mt Bosavi, Southern Highlands Province.

Deputy Commissioner of Police and Chief of Operation Dr Philip Mitna confirmed the Papua New Guinean female was released to police on Wednesday afternoon.

She (name withheld) is now with police whilst negotiation is ongoing to secure the release of the other four.

Police Commissioner David Manning reiterated that police are authorised to use full force of the law to secure the people being held, and to immobilise and apprehend the criminals.

The Southern Highlands Provincial Government led by Southern Highlands Deputy Provincial Administrator, Fiebik Kilip Simon launched the Bosave Sustainable Development Initiative at the Muluma Government station yesterday.

Thousands of people from the 12 council wards of Bosavi Level Government gathered to witness the event. Mr Simon urged the people to take ownership of the initiative 

“Agriculture is the way forward despite not having road connected to this remote part of the province with huge potential for agriculture,” he said. 

The partnership was formed to help the weavers of remote Mt Bosavi in Southern Highlands sell their bilums in the lead up to Mother’s Day, which will fall on May 9^th.

Alex finds a market space for the weavers so that their bilums can be sold however, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, her usual retailers were closed.

“I couldn’t rent shelves to sell the bilums. The bilums that used to sell very quickly sat there for 6 months,” she stated.

This was part of Oil Search Foundation’s (OSF) ongoing post-earthquake relief operations in the Southern Highlands Province in June.

The OSF-led team comprised of a doctor, a midwife, a family planning officer from Marie Stopes (PNG) and two field health officers.

Closure of the only health facility for the community, the Muluma aid post, several years ago has made access to health services a challenge.

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and its associated ministry, Christian Radio Missionary Fellowship (CRMF), have revealed that the Mt Bosavi eruption rumours in Southern Highlands Province are making people flee.

“This is false information. Scientists have been helicoptered in to view and study the volcano. They have declared that there is no danger from an eruption and have been to speak to people in the villages.

Following the devastating 7.5 magnitude earthquake that hit the Highlands region early Monday morning, rumours of Mt Bosavi erupting took social media by storm yesterday (Feb 27).

However, the RVO say satellite images show no unusual happenings at any old Highlands volcanoes.