Enga fighting zones declared

By JAMES GUMUNO
THE Enga peace and good order committee has declared Wabag and Kandep districts “fighting zones” under the Intergroup Fighting Act.
The committee, which met on Monday, declared the fighting zones following a tribal fight in Wabag town between the people of Kala, Kii and Kandep over an election-related issue.
The tribal fight has claimed more than 20 lives and destroyed properties worth millions of kina.
Provincial police commander acting Superintendent George Kakas said the declaration of the fighting zones gave police wider powers of arrest and detention.
Kakas said the fight was eventually stopped on Monday.
Yesterday, he served the orders on the three warring tribes to stop fighting.
Kakas served the orders on the Kambripi tribe of Lakalap village in Kandep, Kii tribe of Teremanda, and the Kala tribe of Amala village.
He said the parties agreed to end hostilities. The Kandep people promised to return home.
Kakas said anyone breaching the order would face a six-month jail term or pay a K2000 fine.
Kakas said the Kandep people had felt sorry for venting their frustrations on the innocent Kala villagers.
They thought that Dr Samson Amean, the provincial administrator and chairman of the provincial selection steering committee, had a say in the sidelining of the seven boxes.