Police in Southern Highlands Province have successfully facilitated a temporary ceasefire and peace agreement with the rival factions in the province. Both sides agreed to the ceasefire on Sunday in which a temporary agreement was drafted and will be implemented starting yesterday.
SHP Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector Daniel Yangen, stated that they had successfully brought the fighting to a halt and have now assured the public in Mendi town that they will be enforcing the terms of the agreement. “We reached a consensus on Sunday that fighting will stop.
We will be implementing the terms of agreement, the factions asked that there should be a curfew set up in the town and we will be outlawing high powered weapons and setting up of roadblocks,” the PPC said. He added that he was happy that the people have finally come to have an open forum with each other and to sort out their differences without resorting to violence.
The factions called to end the violence and have stated that they will meet again soon to discuss the formalities of the agreement and for the signing of another agreement, this time permanent. For now they have resolved to lay down arms. The security forces will also be setting up roadblocks in and around the town, along the highway and to all roads leading into the province. PPC Yangen said this is to monitor the flow of people into the town and province and also to remove weapons from those suspected of inciting violence in the province.
The security forces are now conducting awareness in the province with the hopes of educating the people that violence is not the answer to every conflict. As for the curfew, it will be started yesterday afternoon in Mendi at 6pm and ended at 6am.