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By ANDREW ALPHONSE
THE people of Upper Mendi in the Southern Highlands province are now beginning
to live in peace after nearly 17 years of tribal warfare and violence.
Peace has finally been brokered between several warring tribes in the area
through the efforts of peace advocate and non-governmental organisation Peace
Foundation Melanesian (PFM), based in Mendi.
Since 2003, PFM had gone into the concerned areas and conducted community
justice and conflict resolution courses.
Their efforts are now paying off with the people moving about freely without
fear of further attacks and intimidation from rival clans.
A senior policeman and community leader Jeffery Kereme said the initial tribal
fight flared up in 1987 and the whole area was under siege as neighbouring
tribes joined forces and attacked rivals using high-powered firearms.
Mr Kereme said millions of kina worth of properties had been either destroyed
were torched while more than 70 lives were lost during the fight from 1987 to
2003.
He said the tribes assisted each other and fought over disputes ranging from a
land at which a village court was to be constructed to a clash over stealing of
kaukau, a battle over the tearing of a woman’s bra to a fight over a dog and
chicken among others.
Mr Kereme said these fights later developed into an all-out political related
battle until 2003 when PFM went into the area.
Provincial PFM coordinator Alois Ekape said that more than six community justice
courses were conducted with well over 500 volunteers trained to settle disputes
in amicable and win-win situations in their communities.
Last week, 48 participants mostly tribal leaders and four women from Kelta
village, participated in the course and were amazed to discover how their little
conflicts could be solved and a win-win situation achieved without the need to
go through the formal courts system.
 
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