By ZACHERY PER
VITAL telecommunication transmitters at Mt Otto repeater station in
More than 50 men from the Sehayuha clan of Kotuni village that owns portion of land where Telikom, bemobile and Digicel went to the site and switched off all the facilities.
Director of Goroka Security Services John Siga, also a member of Sehayuha clan, said they had internal disagreement over the chairmanship of the local association and the non-payment for the use of land prompted them to shut down the facilities.
Siga said the three main telecommunication service providers were using the facility to make a lot of money while the landowners’ demands remained outstanding.
“We are now waiting for management of the three communication companies to come to the site to address the demands before communication is restored,” Siga said.
He said his guards and policemen at the site could not do much as they were overpowered by the frustrated locals.
“We hope to sort the issue out as soon as possible as communication services are very important,” Siga said.
The communication services were switched off at 11am yesterday which was deemed an illegal move contravening Telecommunication Act as leading and tampering with public facilities.
The deployment came into effect on Tuesday when threats were issued for destruction to communications facilities at Mt Otto by landowners.
He said police were now providing heavy security surveillance at the site, adding they would use the full force of the law if any landowners try to get out of hand.
Wampe said communication services were important and there were other avenues available to bring about grievances before taking the law into their own hands.
“Ring leaders will be dealt with severely should the situation get out of hand,” he warned.
Communications through mobile phones and Telikom landlines as well as electronic bank data transfers were cut off.
The three huge communication towers at Mt Otto serve the
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