BOUGAINVILLE HARDLINERS GRAB POLICE VEHICLE Submitted by admin on Fri, 12/29/2000 - 00:00
By Jack Metta
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (December 28, 2000 - The National/PINA Nius Online) -Bougainville police chief Joe Bemu has been directed by his superiors to seek help from Bougainvillean leaders to recover a police vehicle commandeered at gunpoint by rebel hardliners in Arawa during Christmas.
Islands Regional Police Commander Assistant Commissioner Matthew Minok said the vehicle was allegedly commandeered by a rebel commander in Arawa, known to police. The man is notorious for four other carjackings in the past, Mr. Minok said. His latest acquisition is Arawa s only police vehicle - a Toyota open back Land Cruiser driven by a lone policeman at the time of the hold-up.