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.
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