Finschhafen tops tribal-fight list

By JIMMY KALEBE
FINSCHHAFEN district in Morobe has the highest number of unresolved tribal fights, according to Morobe law and order official record.
The executive officer with the Morobe law and order office, Francis Masiang, said that out of the total eight tribal fights in the district, one is about to be resolved while another seven is still to be dealt with.
“In all these tribal fights, use of homemade guns, bows and arrows are common and many casualties during the fights stem from these weapons,” Masiang said.
Many tribal fights are over land disputes and sorcery while others are part of cult practices.
Tribal fights also happen in other parts of Morobe and it is time now that local MPs and district administrators address the situations, Masiang said.
He said the Morobe law and order office has a programme in place to address those problems.
“It is a mammoth task facing us and we cannot fight these ourselves.
“It will take time, efforts, money and cooperation from all stakeholders to address,” he said.
The districts and the local level governments had to get their priorities and make law and order a priority as services will only reach people if law and order is not a problem.
According to Masiang, Tewai Siassi will be the next district after Finschhafen which the office of law and order in the province will target.
He made an appeal to those warring tribes to respect each other, the properties they have, women, girls and children who are affected and suffered.
“You are fighting your own family relatives,” he said.
“You are not fighting with your enemies so let us think and solve internal issues where we can without causing destruction to lives and properties.”