Malapoa vice principal bashed

MALAPOA College vice principal Willie Sandy was badly assaulted after a gang of Tannese men invaded areas of the school on Thursday afternoon.
A college source told The Independent that Mr Sandy was seriously wounded with a fractured arm, damaged jaw and severe bruising all over his body after he was kicked several times.

The source, who was part of the former Malapoa College management, said Mr Sandy approached the men after students ran to him for help as these men were asking for money from them after 3pm.

“This is not new. This attitude has been going on for some time, but then stopped,'' he said. “ A few years ago, the management of Malapoa College had to summon Tannese chiefs to talk to their men – and that if they continued to threaten the management or students in particular, the management will have no other options but to refuse entry for their children.''

The source is calling upon leaders, especially Tanna chiefs residing in Port Vila and Tannese MPs, to take strict measures against their people who are causing trouble, killing and assaulting people on Efate.

The incident happened only six days after the killing of a Paama man, involving a Tannese man at Eruiti, East of Efate.

Tanna has seven MPs.

The Efate Vaturisu Council of Chiefs has called on Tanna chiefs on Efate to deal with their men, and have appropriate legal institutions punishing them.

The Management of the Efate Vaturisu Council of Chiefs is urging MPs through The Independent to take necessary measures.

They called on MPs to come together to review the national constitution over the section concerning 'freedom of movement' so that such issues can be dealt with appropriately and 'that if needed offenders are expelled back to their home island and banned from returning to Port Vila'.

The southern command police confirmed to The Independent on Friday that they are now dealing with the matter.