Bougainville Police step up on security at Buka airport
Chief of the Bougainville Police Service, Deputy Commissioner Francis Tokura says Security at the Buka airport was compromised on Wednesday forcing police and other authorities to redirect an Air Niugini flight into Buka to return to Port Moresby.
The plane could not land after angry relatives of two men who were lost at sea arrived at the airport in truckloads to take revenge on 6 other survivors of the same boating mishap between Anir Island and Buka early this year which they've blamed for them missing.
Deputy Commissioner Tokura says security at the Buka airport will be stepped up with police to now have a permanent presence to ensure security of incoming and outgoing flights.
Police have also held talks with leaders of Haku Constituency on Buka Island where the retaliating mob has emerged from to get their people under control and to allow the police to carry out their work with the 6 survivors to find out what had really happened with the other 2 passengers.
Deputy Commissioner Tokura also assured airline operators and the traveling public that safety at the Buka airport will be guaranteed.
"An aircraft was turned back on Wednesday, the safety of the plane, the airport and that of passengers was not guaranteed. Police were there but they were outnumbered, " DC Tokura said.
"There were unconfirmed reports that they were armed, and they were in truckloads. I saw the post courier newspaper and there was a picture of a man holding an M16 SLR.
"So, I had a briefing with my policemen who assured that security would be stepped up at the airport and so I sent a message to the leaders in Haku who assured that there would be no more chaos," the police boss continued.
"I have written to Air Niugini's security Manager including the NAC that safety has been guaranteed and planes can land in Buka.
"One thing we must not forget is that Air Niugini and other airline operators are providing a service to Buka and Aropa airports. Let's not deny this service that the government is providing us with. Let us not create any inconvenience which could force Air Niugini or any other airline to suspend its services to Buka," Mr Tokura said
Meantime, the Minister for Police and Correction Service, John Bosco Ragu is calling on people in Haku constituency and particularly families and relatives of the 2 men who have gone missing from an initial group of 8 traveling from Anir Island to Buka to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and to have respect for other people, public spaces and property.
The appeal by Minister Bosco Ragu follows truckloads of aggrieved relatives of the missing duo which had gatheres at the airport on Wednesday to retaliate the arrival of the 6 passengers from Port Moresby.
There have been other incidences back in Haku where homes have been burnt and relatives of the 6 survivors harassed in retaliation of the 2 men who have gone missing.
Minister Bosco Ragu says police are dealing with the issue of the missing men and people must allow the law to take its course and not to take into their own hands to resolve.
The Minister also says customary structures of conflict resolution must also be employed to resolve grievances which people may have against each other.
Air Niugini customer services confirmed to NBC News today that flights into Buka returned to normal on Thursday.