More soldiers to be sent to Tagali fighting zone

By REBECCA KUKU
AN additional 30 soldiers will be sent to the fighting zone in the Tagali local level government area of Hela today where 23 women (two pregnant) and nine children were killed in tribal fighting last Monday.
Police Minister Bryan Kramer provided updated death toll figures yesterday following his two-day trip to the area.
PNG Defence Force Commander Maj-Gen Gilbert Toropo told The National that a platoon of 20 men were already on the ground and he was sending 30 more to help maintain law and order in the area. “The situation is still very tense and it is a sensitive topic at the moment,” he said.
“What people need to understand is that this happened in a very remote place.
“And that it is part of a generational tribal warfare that has been ongoing for quite a while and there is a high chance that there may be retaliation attacks or revenge killings, so an additional 30-men platoon will be on the ground in the fighting zone to provide security and maintain law and order.”
Toropo said he had signed the “Rules of engagement order”, giving soldiers powers to use firearms in self-defence or to defend the lives of people they are sent in to protect.
“The declaration of a fighting zone gives security factions the power to arrest and question anyone they believe or suspect to have been part of the massacre.
“And because the area is in a very remote place and has a challenging environment, soldiers will have the power to use firearms if and when required to protect themselves or the people.”
Toropo also called on people around the country and the international community to understand that the incident happened in a very remote area where tribal fighting had been ongoing for decades.
He also condemned the massacre of innocent women and children and called on their families to refrain from retaliation or revenge killings.
“Killing is not the way to resolve this issue, it was a very unfortunate incident and the Defence Force will work with police, local government and the Government to ensure that the perpetrators face the full brunt of the law,” he said.
Toropo also said that the call-out in Hela had been extended to December.