By
MALUM NALU
The violence in Lae has affected a partnership
initiative between a Lutheran church group there and another in Adelaide, South
Australia.
Adelaide-based Rebecca Ogan Kiage, who lives in Lae
but is now studying in Adelaide, had
been working on the initiative between Lae’s Church of Hope in East Taraka with
St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Adelaide for the benefit of Lanakapi School at
Tent City, was greatly disappointed.
“They would like to seal the deal for partnership
for both school and church this month, however, the riot is not helping,” she said today (Monday).
“This week was the Lae people’s time to sort their
visas, but with what’s happening, they have been unable to access funds at the
bank.
“So much is at stake here, especially for a group
from Lae’s Lutheran Church of Hope Parish at East Taraka, which was planning a
trip to Adelaide on Nov 29 to explore partnership with the St Paul’s Lutheran
Church in Adelaide to initiate church projects, particularly for the Lanakapi
school at Tent City and also other collective projects that would benefit the
settlement communities around Lae city.
“The team from the Church of Hope was planning to
visit on Nov 29 and this was formalised with St Paul’s Lutheran Church here in
Adelaide, however the riot has greatly hindered their progress.
“The team from Lae is now in a dilemma as to how
they would access their funds and proceed with their visa arrangements to
travel to Adelaide.
“If this riot continues this initiative will be
delayed and sadly, the people from Lae will greatly miss out on such generosity
by both churches that aims to better the lives of communities in Lae through
mutual partnership and respect from both churches.”
Kiage said there was a collective negligence on all
paths which contributed to the riot.
“The best strategy now is for government,
law-enforcing agency and community leaders to address this issue and restore
peace and normalcy,” she said.
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