Hela Province

NCD Governor Powes Parkop said the initiative will be similar to the staging of the inaugural Hope Cup exhibition match between the NCDC Port Moresby Vipers and PRK Mendi Muruks in Mendi during the weekend.

Parkop said he has already spoken with Prime Minister James Marape and Hela Governor, Philip Undialu, adding Papua New Guineans should not turn a blind eye to the law and order problems in Hela.

The Umbrella Hides PDL 7 Association has taken out an urgent blanket restraining order on the Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) and the Department of Petroleum and Energy (DPE) from carrying out further activities in the PDL 7 area.

The order was granted by the courts on November 14. 

On Thursday, after completion of Timalia Gangulu block awareness in the PDL7 area in Hides for the bank accounts’ opening, certain leaders including Eric Hawai, Huriba Andago, Tolai Awe, Alocis Pangali and Haluni Homogo got a court order O/S number 225/2019 to stop the process.

Governor of Hela Province, Philip Undialu, noted this in his opening address at the first-ever Hela Peace and Development Workshop which took place from 1-3 October at the Hope Institute in Tari.

During the hand-over ceremony of the facilities, the Para sub health centre board chairman, Telabe Moiyali, thanked ExxonMobil PNG for its continuous support towards the clinic.

“We are so grateful to ExxonMobil PNG for always supporting us in our time of need. The new staff house and the three refurbished houses are definitely a boost to the morale of our staff,” Moiyali said.

It is easy to see their plight.

Frequent tribal conflicts erupting in many parts of the province have dislodged families from their homes and robbed them of their livelihoods with the most vulnerable – women and children – seriously affected.

Throughout Hela the cry for peace has been growing.

Following the successful women’s leadership summit held in Goroka in 2017, Hela women requested Oil Search Foundation (OSF) support a forum where they can lead the dialogue around addressing violence.

ExxonMobil PNG, operator of the PNG LNG Project, is investing K2.3 million to rebuild and equip three local health centres in PNG LNG project areas in Hela Province.

This is part of its ongoing support to invest in infrastructure improvements and support earthquake affected communities.

The Mananda and Para sub health centres are managed by the Evangelical Church of PNG (ECPNG) while the Juni sub health centre is staffed and operated by National Department of Health through the Hela Provincial Health Authority.

Restoring peace and stability is important for setting a solid foundation for recovery and reconstruction.

The leadership of two previously warring clans from Hela Province recommitted to renouncing violence at a law and order workshop in the Fugwa Basin area, boosting hopes a peace settlement negotiated in April will hold.

The leaders were among 32 people attending a three-day workshop at Fugwa Primary School that provided information on law and justice agencies, family and sexual violence, juvenile justice, illicit drugs and tribal fighting.

Emergency Controller Dr Bill Hamblin mentioned this during a recent press conference, stating that the emergency restoration team is looking to set a post relief effort for work into reviving public service for the betterment of the two provinces.

He said it is important for the administration teams to get to work, adding there is discussion underway with partner organisations for this to eventuate.

The team is in discussion with ExxonMobil to make available buildings for the provinces to carry out administration work.

Since the killing of the LLG councillor on the 28th of March, a tribal warfare has now escalated in Tari Pori district.

This newsroom has been told that the death toll has steadily risen since the tribal fight started.

The recent killing occurred on April 5, where two people were killed. This brings the total number of fatalities to 12 while countless others have been hospitalised.

It was also revealed that the Tari General Hospital is now being run by the PNG Defence Force medical team after staff had vacated the premises in fear of their lives.

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.