Police in Hela Province have arrested and charged a Local Level Government President after discovering him to be in possession of illegal weapons. President of the Tebi LLG in Tari-Pori district, Thomas Tawi was arrested and formally charged on the Saturday 29th July and will make their court appearance tomorrow, Monday 31st July. Tawi along with accomplice, Taralia Aigiru were both found to be in possession of military grade and home-made fire-arms with live ammunition. According to police reports, Taralia Aigiru was sighted acting suspiciously by security force members on normal patrol at the Tebi Bridge at 11am on Saturday. Upon searching him they found two 5.56 mm bullets in his waist bag. He confessed to security force personnel that Tebi LLG President Thomas Tawi had supplied the bullets. Hela Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Joseph Tondop stated that based on this information Tawi was apprehended at a guest house at Pii Tumbiako, Car Wash Area in Tari town. Upon searching him and his room, police discovered a factory-made high-powered single shot (Original Marine Goose Gun) rifle, 2 home-made double barrel shot guns with 24 BB shot gun cartridges and 59 rounds of 5.56 mm bullets. These were confiscated along with other pieces of iron that appear to have been prepared for homemade gun manufacturing. PPC Tondop has commended his men for executing his intent of restoring peace. “Hela citizens and leadership at all levels are sick of seeing unnecessary deaths from the excuse of tribal conflicts and other minor stupidities,” said PPC Tondop. “President Tawi and Aigiru’s arrest is not the last.” We will soon roll out many more offensive operations in my intention to clamp down on tribal warfare in the province using illegal weapons. I now appeal to leaders and criminals (so-called warlords) to surrender weapons and ammunitions and ask for forgiveness before it’s too late. “If you think you are a warlord, then please tell us where the war is and who are you lord of? If you cannot answer these, then you are just a common criminal with a gun pretending and your days will soon be ended. Surrender now, give up your criminal ways and return to a life of peace.”