At least 64 dead in ‘biggest’ tribal clashes in Papua New Guinea
Law enforcement recovers 64 deceased individuals following clashes between competing tribal groups in the northern highlands of Papua New Guinea
At least 64 individuals lost their lives in clashes between tribes in the northern highlands of Papua New Guinea, marking the most significant outbreak of violence in the recent history of the Pacific nation, as stated by a police official.
According to reports from the media, the violence erupted at daybreak on Sunday in the Wapenamanda District of the Enga Province, involving the Ambulin and Sikin tribes along with their supporters.
Local law enforcement authorities informed the Post-Courier that they recovered approximately 64 bodies from various locations in Wapenamanda by the following Monday, including roadsides, grasslands, and hills.
The newspaper detailed that the warring factions utilized advanced firearms like AK47 and M4 rifles during the confrontations, with expectations of the death toll climbing further.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) highlighted that the clashes involved the same tribal groups responsible for previous deadly skirmishes in Enga Province last year.
Describing the situation, George Kakas, a high-ranking officer in the national police force, expressed shock over the scale of violence, labeling it as one of the most severe incidents witnessed in Enga and potentially across the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea.
Kakas conveyed the profound impact on the community, stating, “We are all devastated, we’re all mentally stressed out. It’s really hard to comprehend.”
Reports from the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency mentioned that the military had dispatched around 100 troops to the area, although their effectiveness remained limited due to being outnumbered and outgunned by the conflicting parties.
In the capital city of Port Moresby, critics of Prime Minister James Mara’s administration urged swift action, including the reinforcement of troops in the affected region.
They demanded immediate efforts from the government to trace the sources of firearms and ammunition fueling the ongoing violence, as reported by the Post-Courier.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also voiced his apprehension, expressing deep concern over the distressing reports emerging from Papua New Guinea and reaffirming Australia’s commitment to supporting security initiatives and police training in the country.
Source: AFP
