A MOBILE phone theft has left an unconfirmed number of properties destroyed at Malaguna near Rabaul town and disruption to commercial activities in East New Britain on Tuesday, March 30.
The fights began last Thursday after a youth from Malaguna 1 stole a mobile phone belonging to a female from Malaguna 2 village. The girl’s father reacted by assaulting the youth resulting in his relatives retaliating. The fights continued throughout the weekend till Monday night and on Tuesday morning.
The youths involved are from Malaguna 1 in Balanataman LLG and Ward 8 in Rabaul combining against Malaguna 2, Malaguna 3 and Rapolo in Balanataman LLG in Rabaul district.
About six barricades were set up between the Coconut Products Limited premises and Tropicana Ltd with properties damaged. Confirmation on the number of damaged properties is yet to be established upon police assessment.
The fights caused fear among the womenfolk and children, affected motorists that commute the Rabaul to Kokopo road daily and the main Rabaul Page Park market including shops and hardware stores were closed on Tuesday.
Road users were forced to use alternative routes by following the main trunk road Burmah to get to Kokopo and eventually Nonga and Rabaul town.
The East New Britain Provincial Administrator Wilson Matava and local leaders met with villagers on Tuesday morning and both sides have withdrawn their position.
Ward members of the respective wards gave assurance that there will not be any more fighting tonight (Tuesday) till Thursday where a peace reconciliation is expected to take place at 10am.
The community removed the barricades and normal traffic resumed at 2.30 pm yesterday.
As of Tuesday afternoon, police will deal with whichever party that is reported to be fighting again and will be a police matter.
The situation remains tense.
[…] riot causing unrest at three Malaguna villages near Rabaul town in East New Britain (ENB) was put to rest […]
[…] last month, fighting took place at three Malaguna villages over a mobile phone theft. However disputing parties reconciled to restore peace and […]
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