Ethnic clashes…

A real issue in PNG…

From the “small” scale pay-back or retribution situation…

Merenti
(Merenti - from the Henganofi District - copped multiple fractures in both of his legs during a home invasion by members of a neighbouring clan. Here he is getting a little sun, fresh air and excercise in the main corridor at the Goroka Hospital)

To the full blown tribal war…

(Makes the Cronulla race riots a couple of years back seem like kindergarten play)

As reported by the Post Courier yesterday….

Hagen clash death toll 9

MT HAGEN City ground to a halt and business came to
a standstill yesterday as an ethnic clash between migrants from Enga and Western
Highlanders worsened.
Schools in town that were supposed to start classes yesterday were all closed
and students were sent home early.
Parents wanting to pay their children’s school fees were sent home as banks and
retail shops in town stayed closed.
The main Mt Hagen market was also closed about two hours after it opened as
vendors who came to sell their produce were sent packing.
Mt Hagen police called in more manpower from the Kerowagi mobile unit in Chimbu
Province to help contain the clash.
More than 10,000 settlers in and around the Warakum and Tea school areas were
left homeless after their houses were torched by tribesmen from the Jika
Muglmana area of Western Highlands.
The troubles started in the early hours of Sunday when a man from the Jika
Muglmana group was allegedly killed by some Engan settlers from the Tea school
area.
On Sunday morning two vehicles drove through the Tea school area and one of them
opened fire and shot a young man from Enga who was on a work break from Lihir.
The fight continued resulting in nine deaths with others from both sides
seriously wounded.
About 2000 residents from Tea School camped out at Mt Hagen’s Kimininga police
barracks on Sunday night.
When the Post-Courier visited them yesterday morning, they came out in fear and
expressed their innocence.
They expressed concern the incident happened at a hotel premises and, that the
attackers, instead of pin-pointing the culprits, they took it out on innocent
families.
It is believed more than K1 million worth of properties have been destroyed as
more houses, live stock and goods were either destroyed or stolen.
Some of the parents said while they were taking cover from the warriors, some of
their children went missing.
Spokesman Herman Kaipas from Enga who lives at Tea School area said about half
of the people living at Tea School took refuge at the police barracks.
It was not known where the rest of the people had gone to but most of those
missing were young children and teenage girls. He said their only hope was for
the Government to intervene and guarantee their safety as they look for a
permanent residency somewhere.
The situation was still tense yesterday as PMVs were directed to stop at Saint
Paul’s entry into town, causing a long traffic jam. The city, usually crowded
with people everyday, was empty yesterday.