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At least 53 killed in massacre in PNG highlands
"Biden seals 3 deals in Pacific islands as U.S. competes with China"
By PNG correspondent Tim Swanston
Posted 2h ago, updated 19m ago
VIDEO - Authorities say one tribe was marching to attack another when it was ambushed.
* In short: PNG police say at least 53 people have been shot dead in an ambush in the country's highlands in a major escalation of tribal fighting in the region.
* Authorities said one of the tribes was on their way to attack a neighbouring tribe when they were ambushed.
* What's next? Police have urged for calm in the province as they investigate.
Papua New Guinea police say at least 53 people have died in a massacre in the country’s highlands.
Warning: Some of the details in this story are distressing.
Police believe the men were shot dead in an ambush in Enga Province, in a major escalation of tribal fighting in the region.
Local police believe it could be the largest massacre in PNG's highlands in recent history.
Graphic videos and photos have emerged of the bodies of the men loaded onto a police truck.
Villages in PNG's Enga region have been burned to the ground in spiralling tribal violence. (ABC News: Tim Swanston)
Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Acting Superintendent George Kakas said officers who responded were "devastated".
"This is by far the largest (killing) I've seen in Enga, maybe in all of Highlands as well, in Papua New Guinea," he said.
"We're all devastated, we're all mentally stressed
out. It's really hard to comprehend."
Facing escalating tribal fighting, Enga Province was put into lockdown for several months last year.
Police had been trying to stop the supply of firearms and ammunition into the region, which was supercharging the deadly violence.
It is understood this tribal fight involves the same tribes that killed more than 60 people last year.
George Kakas (facing) says officers who responded to the Enga massacre were "devastated". (ABC News: Natalie Whiting)
Acting Superintendent Kakas said one of the tribes, along with their allies and mercenaries,
were on their way to attack a neighbouring tribe when they were ambushed.
"These tribesmen have been killed all over the countryside, all over the bush," he said.
"Police and defence forces have had to go in to do their best to quell the situation at their own risk.
"We started collecting bodies, scattered all over the battlefield, the roads, the riverside … and they were loaded onto police trucks and taken to the hospital."
He said authorities were still counting "those who were shot, injured and ran off into the bushes" and that more people could have died in the bushes.
"We presume the numbers will go up to 60 or 65," he said.
Police have urged for calm in the province.
IMAGE
Enga Governor Peter Ipatas said there was a warning that tribal fighting was about to erupt.
"[This is] a very, very sad occasion for us in the province and it's a bad thing for the country," he said.
"From a provincial perspective, we knew this fight was going to be on and we [alerted] the security forces last week to make sure they took appropriate action to ensure this didn't occur."
Up to 17 tribes involved in fight
Tribal violence has been rife in the Enga region since the last election in 2022, with another flashpoint occurring last September.
On that occasion, the tribe from another village was blamed for a man's death and then ambushed his funeral, killing five people with bush knives and axes.
Last year as violence was escalating, PNG police sealed the province of Enga
With a seemingly endless supply of guns, money and young men willing to act as mercenaries,
tribal fighting in PNG has become akin to guerilla warfare.
Read more > https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-12/png-tribal-violence-enga-escalates-into-guerilla-warfare/102826764
In the months that followed, a tit-for-tat retribution spiralled out of control. As more tribes became involved, many villages were raided and burnt down.
Mr Ipatas said the province had been trying to manage the fighting, but with 17 tribes involved in the most recent escalation, it was ultimately up to the security forces to keep the peace.
"It's a very big fight that's not normally in Enga province. This is
probably the biggest tribal fight we've ever had," he said.
"The police and security forces must take ownership and be on the ground, assess the situation and take appropriate action.
"Because we know who is fighting, it's not like this is criminal activity that pops up. This is a tribal fight, we know which people are involved."
Related
Tribal fighting in PNG's highlands has escalated into guerilla warfare, leaving desperate villagers with nowhere to go
By PNG correspondent Tim Swanston and Theckla Gunga in Enga
Posted Tue 12 Sep 2023 at 4:55am
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-12/png-tribal-violence-enga-escalates-into-guerilla-warfare/102826764
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-19/at-least-53-killed-in-massacre-in-png-highlands-/103482982
"Biden seals 3 deals in Pacific islands as U.S. competes with China"
By PNG correspondent Tim Swanston
Posted 2h ago, updated 19m ago
VIDEO - Authorities say one tribe was marching to attack another when it was ambushed.
* In short: PNG police say at least 53 people have been shot dead in an ambush in the country's highlands in a major escalation of tribal fighting in the region.
* Authorities said one of the tribes was on their way to attack a neighbouring tribe when they were ambushed.
* What's next? Police have urged for calm in the province as they investigate.
Papua New Guinea police say at least 53 people have died in a massacre in the country’s highlands.
Warning: Some of the details in this story are distressing.
Police believe the men were shot dead in an ambush in Enga Province, in a major escalation of tribal fighting in the region.
Local police believe it could be the largest massacre in PNG's highlands in recent history.
Graphic videos and photos have emerged of the bodies of the men loaded onto a police truck.
Villages in PNG's Enga region have been burned to the ground in spiralling tribal violence. (ABC News: Tim Swanston)
Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Acting Superintendent George Kakas said officers who responded were "devastated".
"This is by far the largest (killing) I've seen in Enga, maybe in all of Highlands as well, in Papua New Guinea," he said.
"We're all devastated, we're all mentally stressed
out. It's really hard to comprehend."
Facing escalating tribal fighting, Enga Province was put into lockdown for several months last year.
Police had been trying to stop the supply of firearms and ammunition into the region, which was supercharging the deadly violence.
It is understood this tribal fight involves the same tribes that killed more than 60 people last year.
George Kakas (facing) says officers who responded to the Enga massacre were "devastated". (ABC News: Natalie Whiting)
Acting Superintendent Kakas said one of the tribes, along with their allies and mercenaries,
were on their way to attack a neighbouring tribe when they were ambushed.
"These tribesmen have been killed all over the countryside, all over the bush," he said.
"Police and defence forces have had to go in to do their best to quell the situation at their own risk.
"We started collecting bodies, scattered all over the battlefield, the roads, the riverside … and they were loaded onto police trucks and taken to the hospital."
He said authorities were still counting "those who were shot, injured and ran off into the bushes" and that more people could have died in the bushes.
"We presume the numbers will go up to 60 or 65," he said.
Police have urged for calm in the province.
IMAGE
Enga Governor Peter Ipatas said there was a warning that tribal fighting was about to erupt.
"[This is] a very, very sad occasion for us in the province and it's a bad thing for the country," he said.
"From a provincial perspective, we knew this fight was going to be on and we [alerted] the security forces last week to make sure they took appropriate action to ensure this didn't occur."
Up to 17 tribes involved in fight
Tribal violence has been rife in the Enga region since the last election in 2022, with another flashpoint occurring last September.
On that occasion, the tribe from another village was blamed for a man's death and then ambushed his funeral, killing five people with bush knives and axes.
Last year as violence was escalating, PNG police sealed the province of Enga
With a seemingly endless supply of guns, money and young men willing to act as mercenaries,
tribal fighting in PNG has become akin to guerilla warfare.
Read more > https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-12/png-tribal-violence-enga-escalates-into-guerilla-warfare/102826764
In the months that followed, a tit-for-tat retribution spiralled out of control. As more tribes became involved, many villages were raided and burnt down.
Mr Ipatas said the province had been trying to manage the fighting, but with 17 tribes involved in the most recent escalation, it was ultimately up to the security forces to keep the peace.
"It's a very big fight that's not normally in Enga province. This is
probably the biggest tribal fight we've ever had," he said.
"The police and security forces must take ownership and be on the ground, assess the situation and take appropriate action.
"Because we know who is fighting, it's not like this is criminal activity that pops up. This is a tribal fight, we know which people are involved."
Related
Tribal fighting in PNG's highlands has escalated into guerilla warfare, leaving desperate villagers with nowhere to go
By PNG correspondent Tim Swanston and Theckla Gunga in Enga
Posted Tue 12 Sep 2023 at 4:55am
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-12/png-tribal-violence-enga-escalates-into-guerilla-warfare/102826764
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-19/at-least-53-killed-in-massacre-in-png-highlands-/103482982
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