Tribal war in PNG Highlands prompts call for intervention

Transcript

Police in Papua New Guinea's Western Highlands province say they are powerless to stop a tribal war on the remote border with Enga province that has killed about 300 people over thirty years.

The Western Highlands commander, Superintendent Martin Lakari, says the jungle area is only accessible by helicopter, but the police don't have the funding or resources to get there.

He says he has asked the government to provide extra funding and resources to mount an operation, but he is yet to hear anything.

Mr Lakari told Jamie Tahana that just last month, eleven people were killed and several others were injured in an ambush using high-powered guns.

MARTIN LAKARI: A renewed tribal clash between the Kukutin tribe and the Yapetalin tribe who live along the border. The tribal fight that erupted [last month] already claimed 11 lives and several others received severe gun wounds. Among the injured was a young girl, age 14, who received bullet wounds to her stomach, she is now in Mt Hagen General Hospital. Kukutin tribesmen killed five, and Yapetalin tribesmen killed six. These killings resulted in a hide-and-seek which is more or less like guerilla type warfare. The actual fighting started some 30 years ago and over the years, a huge male population has been wiped out. We need to do something drastic, the location of the trouble spot is only accessible by chopper or helicopter and we can't make it due to financial constraints.

JAMIE TAHANA: This tribal fighting's been going on for thirty years, can you tell me a little bit more about the fighting between these tribes?

ML: Yeah, the fighting is more or less like guerilla warfare with hide-and-seek type killing. There is no actual battlefield, but when they spot enemies they get gunned down at any time at any place, and this is uncontrollable. The location itself is only accessible by helicopter and police can't make it because of the mountain terrain.

JT: OK, and so basically it's lawless in this area? Police are powerless to do anything?

ML: We can't, unless a chopper is hired and police manpower from here is sent to the area to try and negotiate for peace and try to put the trouble to an end. We want an intervention here.

JT: So what kind of intervention are you envisioning here? Is it something like the military?

ML: In terms of logistical and financial support. Logistics like shelter and helicopters and all that.

JT: Would something like the Papua New Guinea Defence Force operation that was done in Hela province last year to stop fighting there be something you'd look into?

ML: Yeah, I am recommending that as well.

JT: And what response have you had from the national government? Are they open to funding your requests?
 
ML: Not yet, there has been no response from the national government but the commissioner is working around the clock to assist me in this situation.

JT: When are you hoping to have some idea of when you can continue this operation to stop this?

ML: As soon as the logistics become available.