Bodies of students, woman killed in tribal fight buried

By PETER WARI
THE bodies of the two students and a woman killed in a tribal fight in Tari-Pori, Hela, were buried on Friday at Mulupi village.
The students were Sheila Tony, who was preparing to do grade 7 and Mark Tomiape, six, attending the Hoiebia Primary School.
Sheila was killed with her mother Jay while they were returning from their garden.
Hoiebia Primary School teacher Wilson Hape said a police unit from Tari and a group of soldiers provided security during the burial.
Kondi One councillor Howard Hariki said the three were killed without reason but the relatives would not seek revenge.
Relatives upgraded the feeder road to the village for police to use. Work on upgrading the feeder road from Hoiebia to Mulipi village was in progress when the fight erupted.
“The people of the Tebi local level government area want peace,” Hariki said.
“This fight which started at Pi village in the Tagali local level government area has nothing to do with people of Tebi.
“The conflict over a piece of land have claimed 20 lives and forced thousands of people to seek refuge elsewhere.”