POLICE GOING AFTER 2 KOIARI LEADERS FOR STAGING UNLAWFUL PROTEST

Central Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Joseph Salle and his police officers are calling on two leaders of Koiari who led an illegal protest on Tuesday, 23rd July, to surrender to the police for investigation.

PPC Salle and his team made this call after receiving a complaint from the clans of lower Koiari, which include the Behori, Omani, and Narime clans, stating that the protest was illegal because one of the alleged chairmen of the landowners is not recognized by the government.

He said the complaint had been registered, and the police are now calling on the two leaders to surrender.

He said that as police officers, they are doing their job to attend to complaints and investigate to find out if the complaint is genuine.

He mentioned that the three clans had stated that the two chairmen, namely Babea Tonia, who is purporting to represent Rodco Limited, a landowner company, and Steven John from SIDCO landowner company, should surrender to the police to clear the complaints raised against them.

PPC Salle said that according to the three clans from the Lower Koiari Impact Zones, it was alleged that the company that Babea Tonia is heading is not recognized under the National Executive Decision in 2013.

He stated that the NEC decision 356/13 did not mention anything about Rodco Limited, which Tonia is leading, being part of the NEC decision.

“With that, we are now calling on both Tonia and John to come forward to clear the complaint that is now before us.”

“The complainant stated that the protest staged by Tonia, who was supported by John, is illegal because Rodco was not mentioned in the NEC Decision 356/13.”

“He said John is covered under the NEC decision, but his affiliation with Tonia is now in question, which they both need to come forward and explain.”

“We made attempts to call them to surrender on Friday, but nothing happened.”

“We are now humbly calling on the leaders to come to your Police Headquarters, which is the Central Provincial Police Headquarters, and clear this up because we cannot allow the people to suffer while benefiting from water and power,” PPC Salle said.

PPC Salle also called on the people to assist in providing information about the two by contacting him on his phone number 75518209 or any of the Central police officers.

He said the water and power issue is a national issue, and this matter needs to be sorted out as soon as possible.