A Contrasting News Article

The National

Police promise to arrest Somare Jr

Source:  The National – Thursday, December 23, 2010
By GABRIEL FITO

MICHAEL Somare Junior, the son of sidelined Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, is being sought by Wewak police over a shooting incident last weekend allegedly targeting East Sepik Governor Peter Wararu Waranaka.
Police said Wararu narrowly escaped death when a pump action shotgun was discharged, allegedly by Somare Jr, at close range at the governor’s home last Saturday evening.
The incident occurred in front of Wararu’s wife and children, senior public servant James Baloiloi and provincial administrator Samson Torovi.
East Sepik provincial police commander Chief Insp Charles Parinjo told Sir Michael, Wararu, National Alliance party branch executives and community leaders from the Yangoru-Saussia electorate (where Wararu is from) outside the Wewak police station yesterday that the alleged offender would be arrested and charged with the incident.
He said a police investigating officer had been assigned the task.
Parinjo said Somare Jr would be treated like any ordinary citizen and the law would take its course.
Speaking at the gathering, Sir Michael urged all Yangoru-Saussia people to remain calm and maintain a unified Sepik instead of creating a mountain from a molehill.
He said the incident stemmed from a joke between his son and Wararu and he had no grudges against the governor and his family.
“I am not here to defend my son; he has admitted to committing the offence and will go to court like any other citizen,” Sir Michael said.
Earlier this week, the sidelined prime minister offered K30,000 and four pigs to Wararu as a customary obligation and the first step towards achieving peace.
However, Wararu’s maternal uncles had also demanded K5 million from the Somare family while NA supporters in Yangoru and Saussia were understood to be working on a petition demanding K30 million in compensation.
Sir Michael said he would study the petition and discuss with the petitioners on how best to resolve the matter towards achieving peace.
Meanwhile, Wararu maintained that he was still a National Alliance man, dismissing rumours that the incident had prompted him to jump ship.
He said the attack on him was an internal matter and police were investigating.


The Post Courier
Thursday 23rd December 2010
Junior Michael Somare arrested
SIDELINED Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare’s son, Michael Jr, was yesterday arrested and locked up at the Wewak police cells for alleged attempted murder of East Sepik Governor Peter Wararu Waranaka.
His arrest was demanded by the Yangoru-Saussia people during a peace settlement meeting at the Wewak Police Station with the Yangoru people and the Somare family which was attended by Grand Chief Sir Michael.
The exact charge laid against Michael Jr could not be established yesterday.
But its believed he was being considered for bail on his own recognition yesterday.
Sir Michael appealed for calm and told the crowd that gathered at Wewak police station that the Governor and his son were both members of his family and asked that it be settled peacefully. Sir Michael who on Monday gave K20,000 in cash and a pig to Wararu’s wife and family for the disturbance caused by his son appealed for calm as the situation was more an “in-house matter” ... “em tupla brata yet” (they are brothers).
According to Wewak sources, the PM left the police station soon after his appeal, but the Yangoru people were not happy with the situation and called for young Michael Jr. to be arrested and locked up. That was duly executed be ESP provincial police commander Inspt. Charles Parinjo, according to sources.
Mr Waranaka’s maternal uncles also gave their demand of K5m to the Prime Minister at the police station.
Later in the day about 7 truck-loads of Yangoru and Saussia people rolled into Wewak and demanded K30m as compensation for Waranaka’s membership of National Alliance party which support Sir Michael to become Prime Minister.
Mr Waranaka later addressed the people and told them he would forgive Michael Jr. and urged the people not to take the law into their own hands as it was now a police matter.
 

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