SEVENTY PNG workers yesterday surrendered to police at the Basamuk refinery site for their part in last weekends clash between Chinese and national workers resulting in injuries to staff and damage worth millions of kina to properties. Madang Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Inspector Anthony Wagambie Jnr, who visited the site on Monday, told the Post- Courier yesterday that the 70 nationals had surrendered to police after the police gave an ultimatum. Chief Inspector Wagambie said some of the surrendered workers were transported by boat under police escort to Jomba police station in Madang while others would be taken in today for their papers to be processed to appear in court tomorrow. He said more arrests were expected to be made soon. He said during his visit to the site to assess the situation and reassure the company management of the Chinese workers safety, he found out that peace and good order was restored with the co-operation of the villagers and 23 policemen on the ground. He said the landowners had expressed remorse at what happened and gave food and pigs to the Ramu Nickel management as a token of apology for what happened. He commended the villagers who had been working closely with the company and policemen to maintain order and restrain further fights or damages to property. He said since Monday, a few Chinese workers had came out to do a bit of clean up. The PPC said there was extensive damage to properties and vehicles which could amount to more than K10 million. He said there were two special vehicles imported by the company for mixing cement, which now remain useless because they cannot be fixed with more cost involved in bringing other new ones.
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