The Mt. Bosavi area is notorious for a lot of crime being committed, especially against women and girls like the recent kidnapping of school girls, and the reason for that is that there is no real police presence on ground to deter crime and uphold basic law and order.
Mrs. Anne Hewago, the Nipa Kutubu Women’s Council President said there is a need for police stations to be put in the area that borders three provinces; Hela, Southern Highlands and Western provinces.
She said that because there is no police presence on ground, there is basically no police officers there to protect the women and girls, and the recent kidnapping of the 17 school girls in Mt Bosavi, is a big wakeup call to the state to at least have police officers stationed there.
Mrs. Hewago gave an insight to the kidnapping of the 17 school girls stating that the 3 youngest were just 12 years old, and the rest were under the age or 16.
“As a mother my heart aches with so much pain because I have daughters and to hear about this crime, I feel sick.”
“Some of them are minor, they are innocent victims of an indescribable inhuman act.”
“This is not the first time, there are many unreported cases and stories and the government need to address this law-and-order issue now or it will happen again in another village to other innocent girls, not only in Bosavi, but places where there is no police presence.”
Mrs. Hewago added that these gun men kidnapped because of money and they will do it again.
“They will attack again when the money they received runs out and this boils down to show that they have no fear, they are not afraid to attack again because they know that there is no law on the ground.”
She further added that Bosavi needs a police station as soon as possible, and more police recruitments must be done so that police stations are built and more police men are deployed to places like Bosavi, and Hela province especially.
“However, with police recruitment and training, it will take long and kidnapping will not stop, but there is one way we can help these people and that is through Community Policing, while we wait for the government.”
“We have very young strong men in the villages, what they need are basic training for community policing so that these men can uphold law and order in their respective society.”
“These men can protect the innocent and this must be promoted and encouraged so that the government of the day must beef up police personnel in each district and provinces through community policing.”
It’s not only that, she said even the health service into the area has been affected because of these criminals going around doing whatever they want.
Mothers with complications during birth cannot go to the nearest referral hospital for help, health staff and even ambulance services are at risk of going into the area.
“Because of law-and-order problems, government services to remote areas like Bosavi will decline or will not reach the people,” she said.
“Law and order problem will cause public servants to pack up and leave and then many innocent lives will be at risk because they will not get basic services for health and safety”.
She is now appealing to the respective stakeholders, government and responsible authorities to recognize law and order issue as the paramount issue and give priority to address this now in the society before any other services.