More deaths in Porgera

By ELIAS LARI
PORGERA’S protracted tribal war death toll has risen from Wednesday’s 18 to 25 yesterday, Porgera Chamber of Commerce And Industry president Nickson Pakea says.
“Three of the massacred victims died at home from wounds because health services were unavailable,” he added.
Pakea said a teenage girl was believed to have been abducted and gang-raped by the tribal warlords yesterday.
“Relatives believe she could have been killed and dumped elsewhere,” he said.
Paiam Hospital is closed after its employees fled when their homes were looted and torched on Wednesday.
Commander Acting Supt George Kakas had said: “It is unprecedented, barbaric and inhumane. The tribesmen involved in the murders are criminals and opportunists who are targeting innocent people.
“This is a senseless and animalistic behaviour and goes against all the ethical and cultural norms of Enga society.”
Kakas said the violence was not related to General Election 2022 (GE22) but to years of continuous fights over landownership.
Pakea said more innocent lives were lost yesterday.
He said 18 of the dead were from the Wage in Kandep. Others were from the Maipangi clan of Upper Maipangi in Porgera.
Pakea said few girls were taken away by the warlords, and possibly raped and killed. Pakea said since the deployment of soldiers last month, the situation was calm with General Election 2022 (GE22) polling conducted peacefully.
“After the polling, the soldiers left and killings erupted on Wednesday afternoon.
“If the Government does not deploy any troops, Porgera will be razed as fighting is ongoing everywhere,” he added.
Pakea said he had written to the chief executive officer of Porgera District and also to Kakas.
“Those killed are innocent people, some from Kandep while others are from other areas within and outside of Porgera and not part of the fight between the Nomali and the Hayale tribes,” he said.

Marape says SOE will be extended

By REBECCA KUKU
THE State of Emergency (SOE) in Porgera will be extended with additional police and soldiers to address ongoing tribal fighting there, says Prime Minister James Marape.
Marape, who condemned the senseless killing of 18 men and women in Porgera on Wednesday, said members of the security forces would regroup and sent to Porgera.
“Let me clarify that the fighting in Porgera is not election-related. (It) has been ongoing for some time now and a SOE was declared early this year,” he said.
“However, due to the election, the security forces there were pulled out for election duties. But Porgera is still under a State of Emergency.
“With the election ending soon, police and soldiers will be sent into Porgera.”
Marape said the defence force had already put together a team to be sent to Porgera for SOE duties.
A 500 police contingent will join them after the election.
“We cannot allow this senseless killings, rampage and burning down of homes and properties to continue,” he said.
“Porgera hosts the Porgera mine. So the SOE will be extended with more manpower to be sent in as soon as possible.”
Porgera now resembles a ghost town, with roads blocked with felled trees and no one working there.

Marape disappointed with candidates, MPs

CANDIDATES and MPs inciting election-related violence will be held accountable and criminally charged after the completion of General Election 2022 (GE22), says Prime Minister James Marape.
He said it was disappointing to see people contesting the GE22 to become leaders and represent their people acting like criminals.
“Police and community leaders are keeping records. If you cannot control your supporters or get them to behave, then you will be held accountable for the actions of your supporters,” Marape said.
“This (also applies) to MPs who get elected.”
Marape said that after the election, everyone identified as being involved in election-related violence would be charged criminally.
People should by now understand the importance of the GE22, take ownership of it and work together to deliver a safe, free and fair election, he added.
Marape was disappointed to see classrooms and church buildings burnt down. “If you have issues, follow the process. There is a process for everything. Or just take it to the court of disputed returns,” he said.
“Instead of trying to take the law into your own hands, you can say it’s not you (but) your supporters. But as a leader, you should stop them and get them to behave.”