Peace deal done in K1mil handshake

TWO tribes in Southern Highlands settled for peace after a “tok sori” compensation payment of cash, gifts and kind totalling K1. 093 million was paid on Sunday.
The compensation was paid to Wake tribe in the Aiya LLG of Kagua-Erave district by the Ongu Kambe tribe in the Lower-Mendi LLG of Imbonggu.
Imbonggu MP and Minister for Higher Education, Science, Research and Technology Pila Niningi joined his family, contributed and took part in the traditional peace-making ceremony. The minister and his tribesmen contributed K15,000 and six pigs.
The compensation was in the form of 112 pigs valued K784,000, K203,000 in cash, bel kol cash of K27,000 and expenses totalling K79,000.
Niningi said his electorate was known for peace and it was still maintained today and the rampages in Mendi were done by people from other districts, not his.
He made his stand clear that his participation in the peace ceremony was only to promote peace.
“There had been no bloodshed in the district and I want this to continue. Law and order issues affect service delivery,” he said.
The compensation ceremony came after Heli Solution co-owner and pilot Captain James Pima was blamed for the death of a soldier from the Wake tribe who was killed in Mt Hagen during last year’s general election. Pima is from the Ongu Kambe clan of Kamipa village. He organised the compensation ceremony and made sure peace was maintained. Pima contested the Imbonggu Open seat last year.