As is the case anywhere in PNG, there is often a sense of unity amongst those who live in close quarters with each other.
This is often demonstrated by solidarity in the face of trouble and in the event of a breach of peace and trust, leaders work tirelessly to rebuild what was lost.
More often than not, these peace processes take more than just a hand shake. Peace brokers spend long hours of negotiations with leaders of disputing factions and their sympathisers.
In PNG, it is a cultural norm for gifts to be exchanged to express remorse.
At the University of Technology, student leaders from all 22 provinces are working tirelessly to broker peace between students from the Southern Highlands and Enga Province. A physical confrontation took place between the two factions June 13 after a student’s forum to air their support, as well as raise funds to contribute towards medical costs for their UPNG colleagues.
On Friday, the Southern Highlands Students Association from Unitech were out in Lae City, appealing to Southern Highlanders and the general public to donate in cash and kind towards a reconciliation ceremony expected to be announced soon.
Student leaders at the scene of the fundraising, who wish to remain anonymous, told Loop PNG that it is important that they rebuild their relationship.
“This fundraising effort is to bring about peace, as is common we have to make an effort towards starting the process therefore any contributions we receive today will go as bel kol to the Enga students.”
Asked if the student leaders from both disputing parties have had the opportunity to see eye-to-eye yet, the student leading the fundraising said they were working towards that.
“It is important that we do this as soon as possible because any delays will not be in the best interest of the rest of the Unitech community. Since we, the Southern Highlands students, are one of the faction in the disagreeing parties it is our responsibility to show that we are serious about rebuilding the trust of the Enga students.”
The students raised more than K8,000 and wish to thank the Lae city residents for their contribution towards their reconciliation process.
(Southern Highlands Unitech students at Eric Woo [Eriku].)