By RIGGO NANGAN
MORE than 400
Sepiks, employed by the PNG Forest Products (PNGFP) in Bulolo, Morobe, have
resigned en masse out of fear for their lives, The National reports.
Other Sepiks
working in the local bank, post office and schools and the nearby mine are also
expected to leave, causing losses to companies and affecting government
services.
Locals from Bulolo in Morobe, armed with
bush knives, axes, bows and arrows, with a placard calling for the complete
removal of Sepiks from the township yesterday. Tension is still high in the
area.
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The 400 Sepiks at
PNGFP have submitted their names to their workers union president, Moses
Tikiong, and general secretary Albert Kaklep to take the matter up with the
management for payout.
The Sepiks gathered
at the Huxley Street Play
School yesterday at noon
while their leaders met with district authorities to discuss their future.
Kaklep later met
with Sepik leader Nelson Bito and relayed the
message to the people.
The fate of 12
others employed by Morobe Mining Joint Ventures is not clear yesterday.
Some of the 12 have
been living with their families at the care centres while others lost their
homes in the recent unrest.
The employees of
PNGFP made it clear to the company management their decision to leave was due
to the current unrest and the threats to the lives of their families and
themselves.
District
administrator Nimsen Kibisep travelled to Port
Moresby yesterday to take the matter up with
government secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc.
He would also seek
funds for the repatriation exercise.
Bito said three
venues for their temporary resettlement were discussed – the Lae show grounds,
Wawin in the Markham
Valley or a venue to be
identified by the Lutheran church.
Kibisep predicted a
decline in government services in the district if the entire Sepik
community were to leave.
Bank South Pacific
relieving branch manageress Linda Maron said eight employees at the bank were
Sepiks and they were also affected.
The bank’s acting
Momase chief security officer, Igag Woktamoi, closed the bank for an indefinite
period as of yesterday.
BSP is the only
bank in Bulolo and its customers will now have to travel to Lae to do their
banking.
Post PNG branch
manager Duna Mara said yesterday they would soon shut operations.
Meanwhile, locals
yesterday said they were happy to see the Sepiks go but the government must
ensure the repatriation was definite.
“We will stay here
until they leave because the authorities did not play their part which led to
another unrest,” the locals said.
A taste of things to come ... ethnic hatred runs too close to surface in many parts of PNG. It includes both indigenous racism against those from other parts of the country, and expatriate racism, especially against Asians ... Exxon-Mobil take heed ... bring in foreign workers from Indonesia, Bangladesh, India or the Philippines at your own risk !!!
ReplyDeleteBSP is the only bank in Bulolo and its customers will now have to travel to Lae to do their banking.
ReplyDeletetranslation services.