Madang residents protest

By ROSALYN EVARA

MORE than 500 people - including tertiary students - took to the streets of Madang yesterday to protest the changes to the environmental law.
The protestors turned up in droves as early as 8am at Laiwaden Oval armed with placards and banners carrying all sorts of messages, mostly expressing their disgust not only over the changes but at leaders including those from the province who had supported it.
The event went ahead after 9am despite another attempt by Madang Governor Sir Arnold Amet, who had turned up at the oval, to again caution their actions would be deemed illegal.
Sir Arnold, the former chief justice, said he understood that he could not stop them but urged they respect the rule of law, particularly as the matter was before the courts. Further they should be wary of what they say.
This however did not go down well with the protestors, some of whom shouted back at him telling him it was their right before making their way out of the oval and onto Modilon Road enroute to the Sir Bato Bultin Complex.
Police on Tuesday after advice from Sir Arnold had also advised the protestors against going ahead with the march.
However, again this did not deter the protestors.
Madang provincial police commander superintendent Anthony Wagambie in a statement yesterday said while he had advised the public against staging the event the public who had congregated at Laiwaden in huge numbers did not look like they were going to back down.
Supt Wagambie given this scenario had to make a quick decision and allowed it to go ahead with police escort and supervision.
He said as law enforcers their primary duty is to protect lives and property and from his assessment, if police had moved them forcefully there would have been bloodshed and mayhem.
He said on the issue of the matter being “subjudice” (in contempt of a current courtation) he stressed the police role to protect and that it be best left to the lawyers to address.
“If proper written advice and instruction was given out earlier, this would have may be made a very small difference.
“However as I have stated, the organisers were very unyielding in having the march.
“I must state here that all means were used to have the march cancelled. After it was forcefully staged, I made assessment on the ground and provided police to supervise the whole event.
“There was no threat to the whole of Madang town, including the shopping centre, due to heavy police presence. The whole episode was under control by police,” he said.
The protestors had initially planned to march from Laiwaden to the Sir Bato Bultin complex - where they had expected to vent their frustrations to Sir Arnold.
However this did not eventuate as the Governor had made it clear that the matter was “subjudice.”
The protestors instead were redirected by police to the area outside the provincial administration headquarters where for more than three hours they vented their frustrations. While they had demanded the presence of the governor, he did not turn up.
George Ireng, who was one of the organisers of the event, said while it was disappointing there were no leaders to listen to the grievances of the people, they (protestors) could be proud they had achieved something.
“The Justice Minister Ano Pala, the Government has said it would be unconstitutional to be doing what we just did and that we would be breaking the law but we can take to the streets because it is our right.
“Even the governor said no to this march but we achieved something by taking to the street. While they (leaders) may not be here that is okay because if we wait for them they will not make a difference.
“The media is so we will have a media conference and get our message out to the world,” he said. The protest was orderly and many who spoke commended the organisers for the initiative.
The event ended about 2 in the afternoon.

Post Courier, July 1, 2010