Killings common in remote areas due to lack of justice system

THE PNG Tribal Foundation says killings are common in remote areas because of a lack of police presence and a justice system.
Director Girigi Moang said according to their research, many parts of the Highlands had no justice system present and these were in remote areas where killings were taking place but nothing was done about it.
She said killing was a norm in these societies and deaths from natural causes, disease or accidents would see some in the community blame sorcery as a cause and target innocent people, usually women. “There is no police presence in the villages, no one understands law and order or that killing is a crime and someone can go to jail,” Moang said.
She said one policeman could serve as many as 4,000 people in Enga town daily and the figure for the villages and districts would be higher. Senisim Pasin advocator Yanamlyn Yana said most of the perpetrators were in the age range of 15 to 35 which was a concern because that represented the youth and people who were supposed to be the most productive members of society.
She said many of these young people also consumed marijuana and homebrew and were unstable and likely to be a danger to other members of their communities committing assaults, rapes and killings.
“The government has to plan and create job opportunities for youths on the street and engaging them in agriculture and small business.”