Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk

An influential warlord in PNG’s Hela province has handed himself in to security forces in the wake of mass killings last month, reports The National.

Libe Koi of Pujaro village in Tagali surrendered himself and apologised to the people who have been affected by the tribal fighting in the Highlands region.

Last month at least 20 people, including two pregnant woman, were killed in two seperate inter-tribal attacks.

READ MORE: Bryan Kramer: PNG ‘merciless’ payback killings have changed everything

Koi also urged two other warlords still in hiding to come out before he exposed them.

“I appeal to two other warlords in the recent massacre to surrender themselves and weapons because I will disclose their hideouts (if they fail to surrender),” he said

“If I can surrender myself, why don’t you two also come out for us to find an amicable solution to restore peace and harmony in Hela?”

He described his part in the fighting as retaliatory between himself and another warlord known as Okiru over the past six years, and his actions were in defence of his family.

However, during a televised news conference, EMTV reported him saying that after two decades he was tired of the conflict and wanted an end to it.

While he didn’t claim responsibility for last month’s massacre, his translator, Hela Province deputy provincial administrator Eddie Yuwi said that he knew the two warlords involved and was handing himself in as an example.

WATCH: Libe Koi urges other warlords to hand themselves in

He also threatened to reveal the location of the warlord’s arms and ammunition depots, reported the PNG Post-Courier.

Hela police commander chief inspector Teddy Agwi has called on the other fighters to surrender to police, saying that the prolonged fighting had shut down schools, hospitals and disrupted the normal way of life in the region.

The developments in Hela have come in the wake of announcements from both the PNG government, police force and the UN that they will increase presence in the Highlands and take an active role in addressing tribal conflict.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

COMMENTARY: By Phil Fitzpatrick in Tumby Bay

The recent horrific events in Hela Province have brought the role of the police force in Papua New Guinea into sharp focus.

Prime Minister James Marape is currently in Australia and has apparently discussed the issue with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

We can only hope that Morrison, if he responds positively, will take considered advice on the matter and not charge off on some ill-advised scheme involving direct Australian intervention.

READ MORE: PNG ‘merciless’ payback killings have changed everything, says Bryan Kramer

Probably the worst thing that Morrison can do is dither and fund some sort of too hard basket investigative consultancy, although I understand this has already been canvassed.

The situation in Hela and the way the police respond is essentially up to the Papua New Guinean government. What it needs from Australia right now is solid practical support in terms of funding and resources.

Police in “sorry state”
Papua New Guinea is well-aware that its police force is in a very sorry state and needs to be both considerably expanded and resourced.

James Marape may have various plans to change Papua New Guinea for the better but the most crucial change maker in his government is Police Minister Bryan Kramer.

As the minister responsible for law and order, he sits at the pivot point of any meaningful change process. If he performs well, and is supported by the Prime Minister, Papua New Guinea has a bright future.

Having a law abiding citizenry is an essential precursor for so many aspects of life in any nation.

Lawless society
Conversely, having a lawless society destroys national life and the opportunities available to it.

If Papua New Guinea was a law abiding nation it would have a vibrant and profitable tourism industry employing thousands of people.

If Papua New Guinea was a law abiding nation, violence against women and children would be considerably reduced.

At the moment most women and children have no recourse to justice if they are beaten and assaulted simply because the police resources are not there to deal with it.

Without fear of being brought to account Papua New Guinean men are free to exercise their most vile impulses.

If Papua New Guinea was a law abiding nation corruption could be brought down to manageable levels.

No fear of punishment
At the moment politicians, public servants and others engage in corrupt activities because they have no fear of being caught.

Citizens of a law abiding nation are much more inclined to report corrupt behaviour when they see it because they are much less likely to be the victims of reprisals.

If Papua New Guinea was a law abiding nation people would feel much safer in their day to day activities. They would be free to safely travel on the roads and venture out at night. Without the prospect of being robbed they would engage with each other freely in commerce.

If Papua New Guinea was a law abiding nation economic activity would flourish. More people would have jobs, especially those youths who are responsible for most of the petty crime. Drug and alcohol consumption would decline if people were gainfully employed.

How do we know all of these things?

Law abiding history
Because Papua New Guinea was once a law abiding nation.

If you don’t believe this, find an old grey lapun and ask them. They will tell you what it was like to leave their house unlocked, walk safely to the trade store, buy their goods and walk home without looking over their shoulder for potential thieves or assailants.

Bryan Kramer’s task is enormous. He will need more than the remainder of the government’s term in office to make sustainable inroads.

Not only has he got to rescue and rehabilitate a demoralised police force but he has to bring about cultural change.

He has to change the dog-eat-dog attitudes that currently exist and replace them with ones that respect not only the laws of the land but citizens respect for each other.

He can’t do it by himself and will need a lot of help. But he will be the pivot where change occurs.

I can’t think of anyone better to be that pivot.

• This article is republished by Asia Pacific Report with permission from Keith Jackson’s blog PNG Attitude. 

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

By RNZ Pacific

The United Nations in Papua New Guinea is boosting its presence in the Highlands as it works with the government to improve access to justice for tribal communities.

The acting resident coordinator said the massacre of 24 women and children near Tari last week has focussed the need for more conflict resolution.

David McLoughlin, who is also the head of Unicef, said since last year’s earthquake and resurgence of polio in the country, the UN has increased its work and presence there.

READ MORE: Women who died in PNG’s Karida massacre were community ‘anchors’

He said it is establishing a base in Mendi under the International Organisation for Migration.

“It’s going to be basing on a strong peace building, conflict resolution, enhancing the community’s access to justice. And strengthening the informal and formal justice institutions.

“And working with the community leaderships around conflict management skills and conflict mediation, for the longer term. But in the meantime the government needs to take a very strong hand but a very respectful  with regards to human rights hand, in dealing with this matter.”

David McLoughlin is pinning a lot of hope on the country’s new leadership to appoint more judges and police to ensure justice and human rights for PNG’s people.

He said the UN will be bringing in a lot of capacity development around mediation.

McLoughlin said the agency has recently had missions in the Highlands where it was able to help two warring tribes negotiate a successful conflict resolution agreement, so he is hopeful of progress.

He said humanitarian agencies, the government, the extractive industries and churches all have a responsible role to play in Papua New Guinea’s development.

• This article is published under the Pacific Media Centre’s content partnership with Radio New Zealand.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

COMMENTARY: By Bryan Kramer in Port Moresby 

Yesterday, I returned from Tari Electorate in Hela Province following a one day trip to assess the situation following the horrific killing of 23 women (two of whom were pregnant) and nine children in the worst payback killing in our country’s history.

In my capacity as Minister for Police, I represented the James Marape-led government to be on the ground to pay respects to those killed and prepare and provide a brief to the Prime Minister on the circumstances behind the incident – what, who, when, how and why.

Tribal fights are not new in PNG and in recent years they have become more prevalent in the highlands region; one may argue they have been going on since the beginning of time.

READ MORE: Women who died in PNG’s Karida massacre were community ‘anchors’

However since that time the rules of engagement have always been that the elderly, women and children have been off limits.

So killing of innocent women and children in tribal conflicts until recently was unheard of. Last week’s merciless killings have changed everything. The immediate concern is that it will become the new trend.

I guess the questions people are asking are why did it happen, will it happen again and more importantly what is being done to prevent it from ever happening again?

Why it happened
On the first issue, why it happened:

What people would not be aware of was that last week there were three separate killings in Tagali local level government relating to a tribal conflict that has been going on for almost two decades.

The conflict has been between two tribes, one headed by a man called Oi Kiru, who comes from Pajaka 2 village, and the opposing tribe, led by Libe Koi and his second in charge Ha’gu’ai, who come from Yaganda village.

In June 2019, a key tribesman of Libe was killed. His name was Eganada and he lived in Munima village. Usually, when tribes go to war they solicit the support of surrounding villages they are married into or provide protection to.

In this case, a key ally to Libe was Eaganda, who in June was killed by his own cousin A’gun’ai (a known drug body) over an ongoing dispute between them. It is alleged A’gun’ai killed Eganada and in fear of his life fled to Oi Kiru’s village. As the saying goes, the enemy of your enemy is your friend.

However, while in the protection of Oi’ Kiru’s tribesman, we were told A’gun’ai, with a number of his own tribesman, killed six of Oi Kiru’s clansmen including his mother.

They returned to their village and threatened a nearby village called Karita, which A’gun’ai is married into, insisting that Karita village pay them protection money or face a similar attack.

Peace ceremony
On Sunday, July 7, Munima and Karita village got together to stage a peace ceremony, Karita offering 10 pigs and 4,000 kina to A’gun’ai and his clansmen.

Unbeknownst to them, Oi Kiru, learning of his mother’s death, raided a village near Munima called Peta, killing three women and three children – they were all shot to death using high powered rifles.

Following the killing at Peta village, on Monday morning around 6am young tribesman attacked Karita Village killing nine women and seven children. Two of the women were pregnant. They were killed after being attacked by the young men with machetes.

Why were women and children attacked at Karita village?

It appears the killing of women and children stemmed from the killing of Oi Kiru’s mother by men under the influence of marijuana. What followed was the payback killing of three women and three children at Peta village that triggered the further payback killing of nine women and seven children at Karita village.

On Tuesday, members of Police Mobile Squad and the Defence Force were deployed to the area. Following the recent visits by the governor of Hela Philip Undialu and me, the killings have stopped for now. Reports indicate those involved have fled the province.

The Governor and I visited both Munima and Karita villages to get a first-hand account of what happened and provide an assurance that the Marape-Steven government will bring those responsible to account.

I had intended to stay overnight at Karita village, since that was the last village to have suffered a major loss, however I was advised against it as Munima village would expect the same treatment.

Community leaders
Despite my disappointment in not spending enough time in the villages, the fact that the governor and I were on the ground prompted the community leaders from Munima and Karita not to continue to retaliate.

So what happens now.

Following consultation with Provincial Governor, Provincial Administrator and the Provincial Police Commander, including Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police David Manning, a platoon from the Defence Force and Police Mobile Squad is being stationed at Munima Primary School to provide round-the-clock security, to prevent any further escalation of violence.

High level discussions on a strategic deployment action plan, using drone technology and satellite surveillance, will be used to track and apprehend those on the run. An intelligence unit will also be established to gather information from community.

While a number of plans are being put into action to ensure peace prevails, to prevent such devastating acts of violence in our communities it is important that for the long term that we find a different way of resolving conflict that rejects revenge but encourages resolution through dialogue.

I intend to return to the province in a week’s time to get an update.

• This article is republished by Asia Pacific Report with permission from Keith Jackson’s blog PNG Attitude. It was originally published on Bryan Kramer’s Facebook page Kramer Report.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

By Bryan Kramer in Port Moresby 

Yesterday, I returned from Tari Electorate in Hela Province following a one day trip to assess the situation following the horrific killing of 23 women (two of whom were pregnant) and nine children in the worst payback killing in our country’s history.

In my capacity as Minister for Police, I represented the Marape-Steven government to be on the ground to pay respects to those killed and prepare and provide a brief to the Prime Minister on the circumstances behind the incident – what, who, when, how and why.

Tribal fights are not new in PNG and in recent years they have become more prevalent in the highlands region; one may argue they have been going on since the beginning of time.

READ MORE: Women who died in PNG’s Karida massacre were community ‘anchors’

However since that time the rules of engagement have always been that the elderly, women and children have been off limits.

So killing of innocent women and children in tribal conflicts until recently was unheard of. Last week’s merciless killings have changed everything. The immediate concern is that it will become the new trend.

I guess the questions people are asking are why did it happen, will it happen again and more importantly what is being done to prevent it from ever happening again?

On the first issue, why it happened:

What people would not be aware of was that last week there were three separate killings in Tagali local level government relating to a tribal conflict that has been going on for almost two decades.

The conflict has been between two tribes, one headed by a man called Oi Kiru, who comes from Pajaka 2 village, and the opposing tribe, led by Libe Koi and his second in charge Ha’gu’ai, who come from Yaganda village.

In June 2019, a key tribesman of Libe was killed. His name was Eganada and he lived in Munima village. Usually, when tribes go to war they solicit the support of surrounding villages they are married into or provide protection to.

In this case, a key ally to Libe was Eaganda, who in June was killed by his own cousin A’gun’ai (a known drug body) over an ongoing dispute between them. It is alleged A’gun’ai killed Eganada and in fear of his life fled to Oi Kiru’s village. As the saying goes, the enemy of your enemy is your friend.

However, while in the protection of Oi’ Kiru’s tribesman, we were told A’gun’ai, with a number of his own tribesman, killed six of Oi Kiru’s clansmen including his mother.

They returned to their village and threatened a nearby village called Karita, which A’gun’ai is married into, insisting that Karita village pay them protection money or face a similar attack.

Last Sunday, Munima and Karita village got together to stage a peace ceremony, Karita offering 10 pigs and 4,000 kina to A’gun’ai and his clansmen.

Unbeknownst to them, Oi Kiru, learning of his mother’s death, raided a village near Munima called Peta, killing three women and three children – they were all shot to death using high powered rifles.

Following the killing at Peta village, on Monday morning around 6am young tribesman attacked Karita Village killing nine women and seven children. Two of the women were pregnant. They were killed after being attacked by the young men with machetes.

Why were women and children attacked at Karita village?

It appears the killing of women and children stemmed from the killing of Oi Kiru’s mother by men under the influence of marijuana. What followed was the payback killing of three women and three children at Peta village that triggered the further payback killing of nine women and seven children at Karita village.

On Tuesday, members of Police Mobile Squad and the Defence Force were deployed to the area. Following the recent visits by the governor of Hela Philip Undialu and me, the killings have stopped for now. Reports indicate those involved have fled the province.

The Governor and I visited both Munima and Karita villages to get a first-hand account of what happened and provide an assurance that the Marape-Steven government will bring those responsible to account.

I had intended to stay overnight at Karita village, since that was the last village to have suffered a major loss, however I was advised against it as Munima village would expect the same treatment.

Despite my disappointment in not spending enough time in the villages, the fact that the Governor and I were on the ground prompted the community leaders from Munima and Karita not to continue to retaliate.

So what happens now.

Following consultation with Provincial Governor, Provincial Administrator and the Provincial Police Commander, including Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police David Manning, a platoon from the Defence Force and Police Mobile Squad is being stationed at Munima Primary School to provide round-the-clock security, to prevent any further escalation of violence.

High level discussions on a strategic deployment action plan, using drone technology and satellite surveillance, will be used to track and apprehend those on the run. An intelligence unit will also be established to gather information from community.

While a number of plans are being put into action to ensure peace prevails, to prevent such devastating acts of violence in our communities it is important that for the long term that we find a different way of resolving conflict that rejects revenge but encourages resolution through dialogue.

I intend to return to the province in a week’s time to get an update.

• This article is republished by Asia Pacific Report with permission from Keith Jackson’s blog PNG Attitude.
• It was originally published on Bryan Kramer’s Facebook page Kramer Report.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

SPECIAL REPORT: By Scott Waide in Karida, Papua New Guinea

On Wednesday, some of the bodies of 18 women and children in Papua New Guinea were buried by the roadside in Karida Number One village.

They were the latest innocent victims of a 20-year tribal war driven by local warlords in the Tagali Local level government area of Hela province.

Karida Number One was not directly involved in the fighting that initially left seven people dead in neighboring Munima village.

READ MORE: Special reports on the Karida massacre

But they were accused of harbouring an inlaw involved in the attack.

And the women and children paid the price.

For the older generation of the Hela province, the killing of women and children has broken the traditional protocols of tribal fighting.

“This, I have never seen in my life. This is new,” Chief Hokoko Minape said in Tok Pisin.

Chief Hokoko is a household name in the Tagali LLG.

‘Like my mothers‘
He had been councillor for as long as anyone can remember. Then, expressing himself poetically through his grief he said: “The women and the children are like my mothers. I died with them. They are close to my heart. I died of grief. I am already dead.”

Muks Maia, the local church pastor, lives on a nearby hill in Karida village. He ran to the site when he saw the fire from the burning houses.

He was too late to do anything.

“When I got there, I saw the women and children. They had been cut up like animals. There were no men. The total number of those killed was 18.”

Beside the smouldering remains of a hut, one of the men said the women who died were the anchors in the community.

Their lives firmly rooted in the village. They cared for the land and the animals, while the men travelled in between Tari, Port Moresby and Mt Hagen.

It has been difficult to mourn for them, with the people unable to settle into their normal lives.

Attack hut still standing
The hut where the worst of the attacks happened, still stands. A whole family, including two pregnant women and their unborn children also died in the attack.

On Wednesday, the Hela Provincial Government declared the Tagali Local Level government area a “fighting zone”.

The police and the Defence force numbers are stretched with only 40 police personnel and one PNGDF platoon.

The only thing giving them some sense of security are the army and police patrols that have been going into the village since the raid.

Like Chief Homoka Minape, police and provincial authorities say the killing of women and children is unprecedented.

Three months into office, the Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector Teddy Augwi, is facing his first major crisis.

He says dialogue remains key in finding a solution and bringing the warring parties together.

• Scott Waide is the EMTV News Lae bureau chief. He visited Karida village in the wake of this week’s atrocity and he frequently writes for the Pacific Media Centre’s Asia Pacific Report.
• More PNG reports

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz