Nineteen people have died and dozens more are injured after a tribal fight broke out in Papua New Guinea – and police are powerless to make arrests
- Nineteen people have died during a Papua New Guinea tribal fight
- There has been warring for weeks in the Henal province of Papua New Guinea
- Thousands of women and children have fled into forests to escape the violence
At least 19 people have died and many others were injured during a tribal fight in Papua New Guinea, local media have said.
Around 6000 people, mainly women and children, have fled into forests because of a wave of fighting and property destruction in the Henal province.
The area’s police commander Chief Inspector Teddy Agwi said 300 PNG Defence Force personnel and 400 police officers were guarding the area’s main town of Tari.
At least 19 people have died and many others injured during tribal fighting in Papua New Guinea, local media have said. Pictured: PNG police officer in 2012
The area’s police commander Chief Inspector Teddy Agwi (pictured right) said police could not make arrests as the two warring factions were using high-powered firearms and the police were outnumbered
Mr Agwi said police could not make arrests as the two warring factions were using high-powered firearms and the police were outnumbered, reported the Post-Courier.
‘We went into the villages of Oiebi, Mulimbi and Pinagia but they were empty,’ he said.
‘The people have escaped into the forests with their children to hide from their enemies.’
Around 6000 people, mainly women and children, have fled into forests because of a wave of fighting and property destruction in the Henal province (pictured)
‘The fight started between two cousin brothers over a disputed piece of land in Tagali’ three weeks ago, Courier-Post journalist Marjorie Finkeo told Daily Mail Australia.
One of the cousin’s used a homemade gun to shoot the other which led to violence among tribes in the villages of Tagali, Hoiebi,Mulimbi and Pinagi.
Warlords are using ‘high powered guns’ and bush knives to kill each other.
She said many of the injured will not report it to authorities or seek medical help out of fear of their enemies.
One cousin used a homemade gun to shoot another which led to violence among tribes in the villages of Tagali, Hoiebi,Mulimbi and Pinagi. Pictured: Hela Province in Papua New Guinea
Ms Finkeo said the fighting stopped on Sunday but the situation is still tense.
One leader has rescued 20 women and children from homelessness in the main town of Tari, the Courier-Post reported.
Mary Michael, 50, took in people fleeing tribal violence at her centre Never Give Up, and is paying for food and supplies at her own expense.
‘We cannot bring in men because their enemies could come and kill every one of us,’ she said.
She also said she expected to receive more homeless women and children, and that the local Uniting church is caring for around 1000 people.
At least 5,000 Papua New Guineans are hiding in the Hela province, with some travelling by road to escape and others assisted by family.
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