via Post Courier

Lawyers representing the Paga Hill settlers that were devastated from an eviction exercise carried out recently fear the whole hill in Port Moresby could explode if the company is not careful in its eviction and demolition exercise that is currently underway. 

The lawyers believe that unused World War 11 ammunitions and grenades have been buried on the hill and could destroy the entire Paga Hill and part of the town area if the Paga Hill Development Company was not careful in its demolition exercise. 

John Napu, Principal of Napu and Company Lawyers who is representing the Paga Hill settlers said huge number of unexploded bombs were sitting under the bunkers of Paga Hill that could cause a massive explosion which could collapse the whole hill if the company continued to bulldoze the once weapon storage zone during the world war. 

Acting Director of National Museum and Art Gallery Andrew Moutu, while claiming ownership of Paga Hill property, said in a statement that there were 20 items of historical significance found on Paga Hill and they include bunkers, gun battery sites and emplacements, tunnels, ground level undetermined concrete structures, observation posts, concrete steps and gun positions.  He stated that 10 bunkers were identified with a couple of small ones and others were remnants of either observation posts or support gun placements. 

Mr Napu also raised concern that the Paga Hill Development Company had gone ahead and demolished more than 20 houses without having prior consultation with the settlers. 

“This is like putting a 10 tonne of weight on a five-year-old child,” Mr Napu said. 

The company had defended that they had obtained lease to the land and had a legal title over the land to develop it. 

Lawyer Dr Mange Matui of Kamen Lawyers, who represents the National Housing Commission tenants of Paga Hill, said the manner in which the eviction exercise was taken was not proper and legal action would be still pursued. 

Dr Matui, who is also a lecturer at UPNG Law School, said the company got only two people to sign the consent order shortly before carrying out the eviction exercise and that was not proper. 

“We have questioned the eviction order in the district court but the court dismissed our case on the basis that the company had got a title to the land,” he said.

“But we are further appealing the district court decision at the national court and the matter is pending in court,” Dr Matui said. 

The only vocal woman MP and Opposition leader Dame Carol Kidu, who had allegedly been ill- treated by police officers during the eviction, said the Paga Hill residents, especially women and children were harshly treated by police during the eviction.