Violent Tribal Conflicts Rock Papua New Guinea Highlands
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INCORPORATES alert series
Shootouts between hundreds of tribal warriors have left at least 30 people dead in Papua New Guinea’s highlands, police said Monday, as security forces were given emergency powers to quell the violence.
Police said the unrest started in August when “illegal miners” inflicted life-threatening injuries on a landowner in the Porgera Valley, home to one of Papua New Guinea’s largest gold deposits.
Escalation of Violence
Peace talks failed, and the situation spiralled into intense tribal fighting that saw 300 shots fired on Sunday alone, according to police commander Joseph Tondop.
Police said 30 men had been killed across the rival clans and hundreds of women and children displaced, with “many” homes burned to the ground.
Two officials were also killed while waiting for a lift home after work, said Tondop.
Police Commissioner David Manning said “lethal force” would be used to restore order in the hard-to-reach highlands region.
“Put simply, this means if you raise a weapon in a public place or to threaten another person, you will be shot,” Manning said in a statement at the weekend.
Rampant Illegal Mining
“This deteriorating situation has been caused by illegal miners and illegal settlers who are victimising traditional landowners and using violence to terrorise local communities,” stated Manning.
Police said illegal miners from the Sakar clan had been squatting on land owned by their Piande rivals.
Alcohol sales have been banned and an overnight curfew is in place, added Manning, who vowed to remove the artisanal miners from the valley.
Challenges in the Region
Tribal conflicts are a frequent occurrence in Papua New Guinea’s highlands, but an influx of automatic weapons has made clashes deadlier.
The latest burst of fighting had been turbocharged by the presence of more than “100 high-powered weapons in the wrong hands,” according to police.
Security teams have been posted along the highway leading to the mine, using loudhailers to broadcast messages of peace.
Economic Impact
The Porgera gold mine once accounted for around 10 percent of Papua New Guinea’s yearly export earnings, but recurrent flare-ups of tribal violence and a drawn-out government takeover have slowed production in recent years.
Gunfights between rival clans living near the mine killed at least 17 in 2022.
And at least 26 people were killed, including 16 children, when three villages in East Sepik province were attacked earlier this year.
International Attention
Pope Francis urged Papua New Guinea to “stop the spiral” of violence during a visit earlier this month.
“It is my particular hope that tribal violence will come to an end,” he said. “It causes many victims, prevents people from living in peace and hinders development.”
Additional Insight:
The escalation of tribal conflicts in Papua New Guinea’s highlands highlights the complex dynamics at play in the region. The influx of illegal miners and the presence of high-powered weapons exacerbate existing tensions, making it challenging for authorities to restore peace. The economic impact of these conflicts, particularly on vital industries like mining, underscores the need for sustainable solutions that address both the security and socio-economic aspects of the issue. International attention, such as that from Pope Francis, serves as a reminder of the broader implications of tribal violence and the importance of resolving these conflicts for the well-being of affected communities.
