The recent fighting in Wewak, the provincial capital of East Sepik Province, has taken its toll on the people because lives have been lost, properties destroyed, families displaced and livelihoods greatly affected, but this is about to change.
Members of the Greater Sepik community [East & West] in diaspora here in the nation’s capital Port Moresby, have joined hands in a united front to take action against the violence and the usage of the dreaded “Wire Catapult”.
The Sepik Social Youth Movement is a group that is looking to help assist in reaching out to communities and youths in the Wewak to end all forms of violence and to completely discourage the creation and use of Wire Catapults within the Province.
The group’s President Mr. Xavier Wablasu, is hoping that all ethnic Sepiks in the country can join hands in helping to restore safety and security to the province, because the movement is basically for self-help and to address the underlying issues that resulted in the widespread violence in the provincial capital.
“We’ve had issues in Wewak in the recent months, just this year alone we have had so many big fights, most prominent was the Mengar and the Murik. Just recently we had the Nuigo-Chimbain fight and there’s been a lot of others within the span of this year,” he said.
Wablasu said there have been so many deaths and injuries caused by the fighting, especially due to the usage of Wire catapults.
He added that East Sepik Governor Mr. Allan Bird recently spoke in parliament about the undeniably illicit usage of the weapon, which has caused issue in the area and stating that the Sepik community must work together to address it.
“So, for us after that speech it’s a call to action for us. It’s about us getting together, being one voice and one mind trying to eradicate this madness,” Wablasu said.
Mr. Wablasu further commented that this weapon is just the outward manifestation of the other socio-economic issues being faced by the youths.
“We have a few plans, short term and long term. Christmas is coming up and we don’t want that violence to spill over into the festive period. So, we are looking at creating awareness by engaging youths in Wewak and engaging assets in Wewak (Churches, the state, community leaders),” he stated.
On Sunday (30/10/22) the group held their first fundraising event to raise funds for the registration and establishment of the Port Moresby Chapter, and all proceeds will then go to assisting the programs they are planning to implement.