‘Bel kol’ money settles dispute

 FAMILIES of two men brutally murdered in the Sulka area of South Baining in East New Britain last month received K10,000 as bel kol money on Monday.

The mediation process and actual payment of compensation were held at the regional police headquarters at Ralum in Kokopo, witnessed by Governor and Kokopo MP Ereman ToBaining Jnr, Pomio MP Elias Kapavore, acting police commander Chief Insp Peter Kusup and deputy administrator Levi Mano.

The Mali Baining clan represented by Boniface Setavo presented K10,000 as bel kol (conciliation) money to families of the two victims from Sulka.

Setavo told the families that the value of the two lives that were lost was more than the K10,000.

An earlier settlement agreement between the two groups was delayed.

It was supposed to take place between the two disputing ethnic groups living between Sinivit LLG in Pomio district and Bitapaka LLG in Kokopo district.

The postponement  was due to some unresolved issues that have existed for years between the warring parties.

Baining elder Nick Leo admitted on behalf of the Merai and Gar villagers that they were wrong to kill two men and displace several families, who sought refuge at the care centre at Lat village since they were ambushed by a group of Baining villagers on Jan 20. 

He said the Qaqet leaders did not have any idea of the planned attack, but he said it was apparently caused by the prolonged dispute between the two ethnic groups in the area.