Images of tribal warfare displayed

By TONY KIP
THE office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office based in Mt Hagen held its first Highlands photo exhibition about the impacts of tribal conflicts in the region, in Wabag, Enga on Tuesday.
Some of the most remarkable photographs taken by ICRC’s field delegates and officers in conflict areas in the Highlands were displayed and documentary videos were shown during the opening at Enga Take Anda cultural centre.
The exhibition will end today.
Students and teachers from Wabag and Kopen Secondary Schools who had been affected by tribal conflicts were invited along with guests from the provincial government, police and other stakeholders.
Enga Red Cross field delegate Valentina Codeluppi said the exhibition was basically aimed at educating people about the impacts of tribal conflicts and what ICRC was doing in reducing its impacts on the lives of people.
Codeluppi raised concern that tribal fighting in PNG has reached a new dimension and has turned vicious.
“Traditionally, there are laws associated to fighting. You are not allowed to kill women and children.
“You are not allowed to burn a house when people are sleeping inside. You must not burn down schools, aid posts, church buildings or government properties and infrastructure.
“You only fight at a battle field, men to men, and at a certain appointed time. But that had changed.
“High powered guns, bombs and bush knives that are supposed to be used for gardening are used to gun down or kill another rival group. Women and children are gunned down or chopped to pieces, or burnt with the house.
“It has turned vicious and bloody resulting in mass destruction and loss of lives.
“This is very scary and unacceptable and is against international human rights laws.
“Seeing innocent women and children, health workers, public servants, priests and pastors becoming victims is really painful,” Codeluppi said.
She said ICRC was there to educate people to respect their traditional fighting laws and although fighting was totally condemned, if in the instances it occurred, people were discouraged from using dangerous weapons of mass destruction.
“The photos are an opportunity for people to learn and know what’s been captured happening in their society at times of fighting.
“ICRC tries to reduce the impacts of tribal conflicts turning vicious.
“ICRC does not take sides in a conflict. It takes a neutral stand and goes in only to minimise the impacts it has on lives and properties,” Codeluppi added.
ICRC has assisted the victims of the recent election-related fight between the Amala and Teremanda clans near Wabag with first aid training and other recovery kits.
It also assists with water and hygiene kits in conflict areas in Hela, Southern Highlands and other neighbouring provinces.
Meanwhile, Kopen Secondary School principal Dominic Lawton praised ICRC for its work and described the organisation as peace makers and a symbol of love.
“In the face of frequent tribal conflicts that displace communities in Enga or e other Highlands provinces, ICRC is always in the forefront in advocating to address the humanitarian consequences of tribal violence.
“We see them as a symbol of love and peace.
“They come in as a neutral, impartial and independent body. They never take sides in any conflict situation.
“They bring peace and spread love. They are the messengers of peaceful existence for human beings.”
Lawton was impressed with the photo exhibition put out by ICRC staff and field delegates at Enga Take Anda cultural centre in Wabag which displayed what ICRC was doing in communities affected by tribal conflicts.
“Fighting is common in the Highlands provinces. When there’s a fight, many lives are lost, properties are destroyed, houses are burnt down,” Lawton noted.
“There is so much devastation caused and people are traumatised but humanitarian organisations like ICRC are there when people who are victimised need help.
“I want to thank them for their humanitarian efforts in helping survivors of tribal conflicts to rebuild their lives.
“Actually, they are angels.
Where churches cannot get in or offer help, ICRC gets in. I salute them for their brave interventions,” Lawton added.