tribal fights

Sika said this after a man was viciously attacked by three knife-wielding men at the 3 - Mile bus stop on Friday The man succumbed to his injuries and died at the  Port Moresby General Hospital today.

The victim of this brutal attack is the late Jerry Paitik in his 20s of Tsak Valley in Wapenamanda Enga Province.

He was attacked by three knife-wielding men as he was disembarking from a PMV bus near Port Moresby General Hospital on Friday 23rd February 2024.

Speaking out in a recent press conference, Prime Minister Marape expressed his deep concern over the escalating tribal disputes and loss of life, imploring the warring factions to lay down their weapons and embrace a path of reconciliation.

Sika made this appeal following an increase in ethnic clashes within the city in recent weeks. In one of the clashes on Sunday (February 26), a quick response by Gordon Police Station Commander (PSC) Inspector Gabriel Kini and support units stopped an ethnic clash between people from two highlands provinces at Five Mile.

Sika added that there were two ethnic clashes reported during the weekend which police are investigating. He said one was at Derekone Gereka. The fight was between a group of people from Tari (Hela Province) and another group of people from Western Highlands. 

Both parties have now agreed to make peace after local MP William Bando intervened and appealed for a stop fight.

Besides that, Bando asked the warring clans not to destroy state properties.

The MP who had been in constant communication with the warring factions, mobilised neutral community leaders, members of the security forces (PNGDF and Police), and church members just before Christmas eve, and they travelled to Fugwa to talk with the warring faction.

Bando was touched by the call of desperation from mothers and children, who feared being attacked.

The Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee (FSVAC), a sectoral committee of the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC), is appealing to community leaders, tribal leaders and individuals, including men, to put an end to the fighting and pursue conflict resolution so that much needed humanitarian support and government assistance can continue into the province.

Zeming made the call after tribal fights in two different parts of Tewai-Siassi, Morobe Province, resulted in four deaths.

The clashes had made community leaders worried about the ability of the district administration to bring the law and order situation under control.

One fight is raging in Sialum, involving villagers in Upper Ziwe, while the other is on Siassi Island, involving Gasam and Gom villagers.

At least four people have been killed within a week, with many more seriously injured and houses and properties destroyed in both areas.

Landslide affects Tambul road

http://www.looppng.com/content/landslide-affects-tambul-road

The 40, 00 plus people of Tambul valley are in danger of being cut off from Mount Hagen because a section of the highway leading up to the station was washed away.

Manus Island Regional Processing Centre to close soon