Vicious tribal fight underway

FUGWA – A fierce tribal fight is reportedly taking place at a remote village in Papua New Guinea’s Hela province.

The Courier-Post reports that the fight started after a man was gunned down on Sunday and later had his body mutilated.

Koroba police station commander Edward Atopare, with his six officers, were reported to be at the battle scene but could not go in to defuse the tension as they were out-numbered and over- powered.

Hela provincial police commander acting chief Superintendant Mark Yangen was expected to send police. When Atopare was talking to a Courier-Post reporter via mobile phone from Fugwa on Monday, gunshots could be heard in the distant background where heavy fighting was still taking place.

Atopare said the fight is between the two villages.

He said an 18-year-old boy was murdered on Monday morning while about 60 houses were burnt down.

He said innocent mothers and children were fleeing their villages with the homes still standing currently under siege.

He said many of the mothers and children were taken by surprise and did not have ample time to pack their belongings to escape.

“With whatever few belongings they have, they are fleeing to seek refuge elsewhere with their relatives,” Atopare said.

He said the fight is believed to be related to an earlier tribal fight last year in the same area where three men were killed.

Atopare said the fight was stopped last year by local Koroba Lake Kopiago MP, Phillip Undialu, under his Development for Peace programme until it flared up again this week.

Atopare reported that there is heavy use of high-powered weapons in the fight that is expected to cause more destruction and loss of lives if no efforts are made to quell the situation.

Atopare said because of the fight, classes at the nearby Fugwa primary school were closed and children sent home for fear of being attacked.

He said fear of the fight has also gripped the local mission station, health centre and airstrip.