PRESIDENT of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Ishmael Toroama has condemned killings associated with sorcery and retaliation.
In a statement, Mr Toroama said the recent spate of violent acts and the general deterioration of law and order in Bougainville can no longer be ignored.
“I condemn the recent senseless acts of murder and arson related to sorcery and payback killings that have happened in the last couple of weeks throughout parts of Bougainville.
“I do not see these problems as isolated incidents or crimes that can be justified with due cause; no crime can be justified and no crime is above the law,” he said.
He said it has been nine months since his inauguration where he had highlighted strengthening law and order as a pillar of his presidency.
Within these last nine months, law and order problems have risen at an alarming rate. People have assumed that they are a law unto themselves where they are judge, jury and executioner.
“These actions have now forced the government to introduce strict measures to deal with law breakers who continue to impede development and our journey to political independence.”
The President urged the Bougainville people to respect the law and refrain from resorting to their baser instincts by taking the law into their own hands.
We must work with the law and justice agencies to ensure we reach an amicable solution to our problems as well as letting justice prevail.
“To all Bougainvilleans, let us not segregate ourselves and promote an isolationist attitude to this issue; this is an issue that must be condemned by everyone.”
He said as the region prepares for independence everybody must ensure the society is safe, the rule of law prevails and people are allowed to be tried before the courts through the proper legal process.
“These outrageous acts of violence may threaten to shake the very foundations of our shared commitment to peace and unity but we will not be deterred by it. We must continue working together for the greater good of Bougainville,” President Toroama said.