Representing the multi tribes of Foe locality in Kutubu, Southern Highlands Province (SHP), Foe Association Chairman and Managing Director of WB Group of Companies Mr. Johnny Yawari has called on local MP for Nipa Kutubu and Minister for Defence Hon. Dr. Billy Joseph’s intervention on misconducts by Poroma locals in the electorate.
Mr. Yawari raised his people’s concerns by urging locals in his electorate to respect rule of law, following multiple threats and cyber bullying by locals from a certain ethnic group in Poroma Local Level Government.
This announcement was made clear, following consecutive road blocks by few locals in Poroma, who were blocking the main Poroma-Kutubu Access Road, as well as attempting to hold people on ransom, following demands of money which the chairman labelled it as falsified claims.
The chairman also clarified that if anyone from Poroma have outstanding issues with the people of Kutubu, there are formal procedures in place and they should stop taking law into their own hands.
Mr Yawari explained that the consistent road blocks by locals in Poroma is unlawful and that all claims made regarding outstanding service providers’ bills are fabricated because all bills were settled on several occasions.
Yawari further clarified that the Foe people have paid huge sum of money to the Poroma, following claims by locals who complained for service provider outstanding bills, including a legacy issue that has been long standing by his late father.
In 2013, Yawari stated he made an initial payment of K8,000.00 to Joe Reto from Poroma relating to the outstanding service providers’ bills. In 2016, Yawari stated that a K130,000 was paid to the Poroma people, comprising K100,000.00 for outstanding services bills which was received by local business man late Bamu Ramu and K30,000 for Poroma youth’s moral support, which Douglas Tungi received in the stead of the youths.
The above payments were made eight (8) years ago and neither Yawari nor Kutubu people have any debt outstanding with the Poroma people.
The same people who reside along the Poroma Kutubu Access Road are known for multiple unlawful conducts, including the kidnapping of Kutubu’s prominent politician and community leader, Kossy Sosoro, who was held on ransom by the same group in 26th March 2022. Sosoro was held captive against his will for some days until he got released once ransom payment was made to his kidnapers.
On Saturday 04th January, the people of Foe and their leaders made K120, 000.00 compensation to the family of late Constable Yenuwe Manaki to maintain peace, unison and the prevalence of justice.
Despite settling all falsified claims with huge sums of money, Johnny Yawari and the people of Foe were threatened, harassed and cyber bullied by these self-vested people in Poroma through multiple menacing social media posts, false accusations, including a video recorded and circulated over the past week.
In addition, the group has advised Mr. Yawari to pay a huge sum of money, stating that failure of compliance will result in the resumption of road blocks to the people of Kutubu Local Level Government.
However, the Chairman clarified that Foe people’s compliance to forged prerogatives on all instances over a decade was purposely intended at upholding peace and stability in the electorate and among tribesmen, mostly emphasizing on unity and oneness.
The continuous claims by this certain group of people who reside along the Poroma Kutubu Access Road is condemned by Johnny Yawari as untruthful and daunting, as it deprives the democratic rights of the people of Kutubu from accessing rightful government services and acquisition of necessary goods in Mendi and Mount Hagen.
Therefore, the people of Kutubu request immediate intervention of the Southern Highlands Provincial police Commander and Nipa Kutubu District Development Authority on this matter, so that law and order is maintained at all cost throughout Nipa Kutubu District, and SHP.
