A police official says an investigation team has been dispatched to investigate and arrest suspects involved in the oil spill at the Kagamuga airport tarmac in Western Highlands Province.

WHP Election Operations Commander, Superintendent John Sagom strongly condemned the act saying it is an act of “terrorism” and vowed to investigate the incident thoroughly and arrest those involved.

“We will get to the bottom of this. I’m calling on the general public to come forward with any information that will assist the police arrest and charge those who are responsible for this act of terrorism.”

Commander Sagom confirmed that suspects entered the Kagamuga airport in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday) and spilled oil on the airport tarmac causing airline operators to suspend all flights into and out of Mt Hagen.

“Let me remind the people of Western Highlands of the wider implications of what has happened here. The rest of Western Highlands, the Highlands and PNG is bigger than Mt Hagen. Leaders have to be sensible and responsible. What is happening in Mt Hagen does not speak well for the local leadership if they are going to resort to such acts of terrorism, threats, force and intimidation to have it their way,” Sagom added.

He said a heavy presence of both Police and Defence Force personnel have been mounted around the airport vicinity and within the Mt Hagen township.

In addition, Superintendent Sagom said there was also a brief moment of concern in Mt Hagen town this morning (Tuesday) concerning a group of disgruntled members of the community living around the Kagamuga airport area who staged a peaceful protest march to Kagamuga airport whilst another group staged a protest march in Newtown along the Okuk Highway, blocking off commuters traveling into Mt Hagen town from the upper highlands.

The protesters aired their grievances over the appointment and handling of the Mt Hagen Open Returning Officer’s (RO) post, however was contained by swift response from the Police and PNGDF personnel on the ground.

Commander Sagom called on the leaders to respect the democratic process of the election and allow it to take its course. He further appealed to them to take control of the situation and work with the security forces to ensure such acts of terrorism do not occur again.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Lae MP, John Rosso demanded a public apology from the country’s leading Daily Newspaper, Post Courier over a report on its front page titled, ‘ MPs eyed ULP Leadership.’

The report stated that ULP’s General Secretary, John Avira confirmed to Post Courier yesterday that he received ULP leadership interests from Politicians including Pangu’s senior members, Deputy Prime Minister, John Rosso and National Planning Minister, Rainbo Paita.

In a media conference today (Tuesday, 7th June) in Lae, Rosso said Avira failed to clarify the report with him.

Rosso also confirmed that he hadn’t spoken to any Journalist from the mainstream media including Post Courier concerning the report published today, expressing his interest to lead the United Labour Party.

He said he and other Pangu members including Finschhafen MP, Reinbo Paita and Morobe Governor, Ginson Saonu haven’t approached Avira claiming their stance to lead ULP.

Rosso, a senior member of Pangu Party said Pangu respects ULP, which was formed by the late DPM and Bulolo MP, Sam Basil. He said Pangu also respects ULP’s stance with the decision of Rigo MP, Lekwa Gure to lead ULP.

He demanded that Post Courier publicly apologize to himself Reinbo Paita, Pangu and ULP.

He said if Post Courier fails to apologize he will take legal action against the Reporter, Editor and the Newspaper company.

Rosso also called on the Journalists and Reporters of the mainstream media and social media to be mindful of Journalism ethics and report without fear or favor.

Sam Basil Junior, intending candidate for Bulolo Open and eldest son of Late DPM and Bulolo MP, Sam Basil called on candidates vying for the same seat to be responsible and educate their supporters not to cause violence or discrimination against other supporters.

Basil Junior said all candidates including himself and his supporters must refrain from violence to allow a free and fair election.

Sam Basil Junior made this statement during a prayer dedication ceremony over his posters, banner and United Labour Party merchandise in Mapos village of Bulolo’s Buang LLG last week Thursday.

The ceremony was witnessed by over two thousand people including Sam Basil Junior’s biological mother Allison, a local woman from Buang.

Basil Junior who’s running under his late father’s ULP banner said the Bulolo Open seat is not anybody’s birthright, including the Basils’. He said he is exercising his constitutional rights to contest just like any other candidates.

He thanked his people from Bulolo and wished all candidates vying for Bulolo Open seat the best in this election.

James Sinclair was born in Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia on the 18th of April, 1928. The prolific author came to Papua New Guinea in August of 1948 as a cadet patrol officer.

He served successfully on many stations as a Patrol Officer, Assistant District Officer, Deputy District Commissioner and District Commissioner then retired in 1975 around the time of PNG’s independence.

During his service, James carried out extensive exploratory and appeasement patrols in Morobe and Southern Highlands Districts.

He opened Koroba station in 1955, the in 1956 he opened Kopiago base camp and also explored the then Uninhibited area to the Strickland River until the late 1958.

James later served in Wau, Finschhafen and Lae sub-Districts before he moved to Eastern Highlands in 1968.

He was the last Australian District Commissioner of Eastern Highlands District from 1969-1974.

James Sinclair retired in August of 1975 after the position was localized because of independence.

After retiring, Sinclair turned his hobby of writing PNG history into a full time job and have since published more than 30 books.

Sinclair published his first six books while he was still in PNG after his retirement in 1975.

His first book “Behind the Ranges: Patrolling in New Guinea” published in 1966 was an account of his early exploratory patrols in New Guinea.

His recent publication “Diwai”: A history of Divine Word University was the last book he wrote before he passed on in October of 2017 at the age of 89.

James was also awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1992.

In 1999 he was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters from the Australian National University.

And in 2008 a companion, order of the Star of Melanesia (PNG).

Last Wednesday his wife Jan Sinclair presented several of his publications to Divine Word University’s Noser Library for research.

“I’m proud to give James Books” to Noser Library, and I thanked Sir Peter Barter for his support, without him I wouldn’t have shared all this stuff. I came to Papua New Guinea two years ago and found out that Divine Word Research Library didn’t have all of James books. So I thought IL go home and see if I have more books and fill in the gaps.

“When James was alive, he came to Madang saw the university’s Library and he came back and told me, I’m very interested in Noser Library and the Research Library and I would look more into it, so when I was looking for a place to send things to, this place seems obvious for anybody to research.”

Jan Sinclair didn’t just donate James books but two medals of Luluais and Tultuls.

Luluais are village chief or headmen in the New Guinea specially and Tultuls are more like an interpreter in the village.

James also sent some of his collection to the Australian National University, a public research university in Canberra. The collection includes patrol reports, station journals, district annual reports, old photographs including various other reports, reviews and studies and many more collections.

“The collections are kept in an underground archive at ANU, Jan said.”

Jan Sinclair was also in Madang to share some of his husband’s ashes, as they have long ties with Madang and as a closure for her.

“And so when we were touring his ashes my son said stop don’t you think some of his ashes should go back to New Guinea, we have long ties with Madang but for me it’s closure.”