Church-goers had to run for their lives and market vendors cried for their wares and stalls in the fire fight that has left 20 men in police custody and Namah seeking refuge with his former colleagues at a PNG Defense Force establishment in town.
Police and several residents from the usually quiet town informed the Post-Courier of the clash between the police and the border rangers which started at about 10 a.m. next to the Vanimo police station.
Rural police commander Inspector Augustine Laho and the residents said the clash was a culmination of weeks of terror tactics employed by what many described as the “illegal force” set up by Namah.
They said the latest confrontation started on Saturday when a group of border rangers drove into town in the morning and destroyed market stalls at the Desi market.
This is the main market in Vanimo town where mothers sell their produce. The market is located next to the police station.
According to the reports, the police went to see Namah and to ask him to put a stop to the activities of his men but his bodyguards informed them that they were carrying out instructions from the minister.
“They rode in again and burned down what was left standing from (Saturday’s) raid. Many mothers were in tears because their wares were thrown all over the place,” Laho said.
“We can’t just stand around and watch this illegal force going around and doing this right under our nose.”
