Part of living in a foreign culture is being continually shocked by things. Back in April of 2016 there was a fight in Madang between Sepik and Highlanders. I think the official report was 3 cars were burned, multiple injuries as well as lots of unrest. As a result, Police were sent to Madang from Lae to help strengthen the local Police and assist in addressing the unrest. Part of the plan in addressing the fighting between these two groups was evicting people from Madang settlements.
Settlements are melting pots of people around cities in PNG. Madang has several settlements and people move from their village to towns to do several things: Look for work, visit family or just hang out. There are also people that move to settlements to squat or “do nothing”. This is the group that the Police are targeting in the evictions because the result of having nothing to do seems to result in crime going up around town.
Most recently the settlement next to our house was evicted after a one month notice. Anyone that did not have a legitimate job was evicted. The Police went in with chainsaws felling trees and a bulldozer leveling banana trees, makeshift houses and all other vegetation. It looked like a mess and many people had to go back to their village. The picture captures what the area looks like currently but I wish I had a picture of the place before they bulldozed it. All you would have seen was banana trees lining the road we are walking on.
Overall we are thankful that the Police are doing a good job addressing crime. However, It is unfortunate that people trying to maintain legitimate jobs in town are effected as a result. The Police did open up another settlement specifically for people with legitimate jobs in Madang.
Thiis is crazy! The world needs Jesus! How is Lorie? Praying.