The exercise today was suppose to be an eviction notice serving and time allowed to move but turned out to be a demolition. Cops didn't want anyone to capture what was happening. Police punched me, broke my camera's mic and held my camera for 4 hours. I was covering the demolition of Paga settlement this morning. [in Port Moresby]
That goes to show that proper processes were not followed. It is a urban settlement with 3000 people. They will have to move anyway under a proper arrangement.
Whatever development can take place there but with respect to people who live there for years. The treatment was just inhuman. No time was allowed to pull down houses. Many are now homeless. To make it worse it's raining and where would they go to for shelter. Very sad to women and children rushing around while the excavator under heavy presence of cops push down their houses in front of them.
I regret police forced me to delete all my shots and videos before they gave back my camera. It would show for itself. Thanks to [Dame] Carol Kidu for been there and speaking hard to the cops who eventually gave my camera back.
People before profit is what country should give priority.
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