THE more than 10, 000 people of Bambilnge tribe of North Wahgi district in the new province of Papua New Guinea, Jiwaka will long remember their two prominent leaders who passed away last year without saying good bye.

John Poro, prominent leader and principal of Port Morersby-based Poro Lawyers died mid last year (2010) and the people lost another prominent leader and businessman Thomas Alu in December (2010). As a result, most of the people did not participate in the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Out of respect for these two leaders, while the people of Papua New Guinea were celebrating, they were mourning the passing of late Alu.

As is normally the case for many people throughout the country, the Bambilnge tribesmen and women could not accept Alu’s death. They rubbed mud on their faces and bodies, cvried and wailed, asking themselves “why did you leave us without saying a word...” Alu died at Modilon General Hospital in Madang after a heart attack.

After the death of Poro, they looked upon Alu as their only leader and flag-carrier who had represented them both at the grassroots and national level. They are still wondering who among their tribesmen will fill the big vacuum Alu had left behind.

Both late Poro and Alu left behind long and colorful stories. They had come up the hardway but they overcame many obstacles along the way to become what they were; making a name for them and their tribesmen. They left behind a legacy that will benefit the people, in one way or another, for some time to come. In his eulogy, a community and tribal leader described Alu as a “colourful and unique leader who had done a lot for the people. We will miss him...”

Alu was born at Olkamul village in Kuiona in 1956. Just two months after his birth, his lovely mother passed away. No woman in the community had given birth recently who could share her breast milk with baby Alu. His father fed him sugar cane juice and fruit during his infancy. He grew up in his village and attended St Anslem Community School. In 1967 he was sent to Fatima Community School to continue with his standard 5 and completed his standard 6 the following year.

Alu scored good grades and the Catholic Mission selected him to go to St. Fidelis College in Madang in 1972. He completed his college education in 1973 and enrolled at the University of Papua New Guinea in 1974.

During his holidays Alu mobilsed some Jiwaka students to fight for a separate province of Jiwaka (from Western Highlands Province). He organised a protest march but police inteverne and arrested him. As the ring leader, he was detained at Baisu jail for two months.

After independence in 1975, Alu served an advisor and first secretary to two former Members for (late) Sir Kaibel Diria (North Waghi) and (late) Sir Thomas Kavali (Jimi). Late Sir Kaibel was the Minister for Post and Telegraph and Sir Thomas Kavali was Minister for Lands and Physical Planning. Alu left the political scene and joined Western Highlands Provincial Government. He held the important post of Provincial Planner until he resigned to enter private life.

He started his family business in general merchandising, real estate, coffee growing and became a successful businessman in Jiwaka. Because of his success as a business, the government appointed him as chairman of Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) for six years under former Prime Minister Paias Wingti’s regime.

Alu also served as chairman of the National Housing Corporation when the late Bill Skate was Prime Minister. He contested the North Wahgi Open seat in the 1992 general elections but was unsuccessful. He went to Madang 1994 and contested the Madang town seat. He won and did not complete his term after the Provincial Government system was abolished.

At his funeral service held in Banz, the town came to a standstill as people flocked in to attend his funeral service and say good bye for the last time. They started ariving very early in the morning and waited for his body to arrive by plane from Madang . They came to attend the funeral service with his immediate families and clansmen and pay their last respects to him before he was laid to rest. Most of the business houses closed for the occasion.

Alu was described as one of the colourful and unique leaders and he would be missed because of what he had done to his people in contributing to grassroots developments. It was a very sad occasion for his people because they were expecting him to come home as he used to and they did not expect him to arrive home in a casket from Madang. His body was brought to Kilip Village on his vehicle where he will be laid to rest.

North Wahgi MP Benjamin Mul took the initiative to hire vehicles to transport Alu’s body from Kagamuga airport to Banz. Mul said since he was elected he had taking lead in compensation payment to solve people’s problem and buy coffin boxes for his people. “When I was elected Member for North Wahgi I transported the body of late Ms Regina Kati, late John Poro and this is the third time for me to transport the body for late Mr Alu. They were important people that the people of North Wahgi have lost and we will miss for a long time to come,” Mul said. He described Alu as a man who had valued his life and also did a lot of things for the people who donated K10, 000 in cash towards the funeral expenses.

Mul urged Alu’s families to get together and raise someone in the family to continue the important role that their father and husband had left behind. Alu was a leader who preferred to keep a low profile but his leadership was evident in everything that he did, for himself, for his family and, just as importantly, for his tribesman and people.

He contributed generously, in both cash and kind, to churches and other groups. The churches will no doubt miss his generousity. Alu had left behind a big vacuum that will take some time to fill.

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