11 Jul 2003

96 charged over settlement deaths in PNG

3:55 pm on 11 July 2003

Papua New Guinea police have now charged 96 people with wilful murder in relation to the killings at a Port Moresby settlement last month.

Seven people were killed after ethnic fighting erupted at Tete Settlement, which is predominantly inhabited by the Goilala people of Central province.

The National reports that the Deputy Police Commissioner, Gari Baki, says the arrested men have been refused bail and are remanded in custody at Bomana prison.

Mr Baki says 86 of those arrested are from Southern Highlands while 10 are from the Enga province.

He says a large number of weapons including daggers, bush knives and axes were confiscated from the suspects.