RAI COAST VILLAGERS FIGHT BACK AGAINST GANG

 

Children of Rai Coast. Their fathers and brothers are raising their own security forces to protect these children from the evil Hetwara Gang.

HETWARA GANG THREATENS RAI COAST

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA

A CRIMINAL gang has threatened to sabotage the election in the Rai Coast electorate of Madang Province.

According to Ward 13 councilor Bomeba Wasao, the notorious “Hetwara Crew” issued the threats, and he is requesting that police need to be in the area before the issue of writs on April 28.

He said the Hetwara Crew gang had continued its attacks on villages.

“They have threatened the National Election’s saying that once the boxes are on the ground, no-one will vote, they will destroy the ballot boxes,” Mr Wasao said.

“The group is continuing its attacks, the villagers are scared and have hidden themselves, schools have closed, and aid posts have also closed.

“I appeal to the police hierarchy to ensure they have a large contingent in the area to allow us locals to vote as we, too, want to take part in this election.”

The community leaders said that Upper and Lower Nankiana areas had a population of about 10,000 with an eligible voting population is about 8,000.

Armed with bows and arrows, home made guns and bush knives, these locals are not taking any chances against the Hetwara Gang that has been terrorising the Rai Coast in Madang.

 

He stressed that if the government was serious about free and fair election, this would the right time to act before the gang carried out its threat.

Mr Wasao said the gang threatened to attack polling officials and destroy ballot papers and boxes throughout Nankina area during the election time.

He said the threat was serious as it threatened the democratic rights of people to vote freely and fairly.

The operation into the area called “Operation Tumn Ya Aman” is under the command of Detective Inspector Steven Yalamu who has spent a week in the area.

From the latest information given to the police, affected villagers have now taken up arms to protect their homes, women and girls and all the men have taken up arms and formed their own resistance groups.

These groups are Mibu Resistance Group; Tariknan & Yopbo;  Langani; Taip; Kwovan; and Gworawon, which has formed two groups to fight the criminals.

The groups have appealed to police and the government to support them stand up to the gang.