Putting price tags on tribal fights

I CAN still remember way back in the 1980s, my clan and tribesmen would purposely have round-table discussions for engaging in tribal warfare with another tribe for a known reason. Then, there goes the warfare in the battlefield.
While on battlefield during fight, rules of engagement were strictly being followed and subsequent events unfolded as a result of fighting were well managed. Consequences affecting allying tribes had a price tag and a demand to be met by my host clan for years to come. Fighting on the battlefield may last for some years, but consequences last for decades and may be faced by the next generation.
One thing our grandfathers/fathers have failed to understand in the mist of their planning was “what goes around comes around would benefit either positively or negatively on their grandkids”, and “what has been planted, same is going to be harvested by their next generation”.
Those that have lived before us had taken tribal fighting as another social entertainment to show their strength and superiority, but failed to understand the magnitude of devastating consequences.
I personally witnessed my clan/tribes (Konowai/Pyaline) went through tribal warfare with a neighboring tribe (Tamagale) since 1982 in my childhood days.
Tribal fighting erupted again in 1989 while I was in the third grade. Mulisos Community School was forced to close several times and I repeated Gr 6 twice in 1992 and 1993 after further continuation of the same tribal fight.
In 1996, I was in Gr 9 at Laiagam High School and warfare started all over again.
It affected my Gr 10 in 1997, however, I managed to complete schooling and sit for my examinations.
Soon after the last day of Gr 10 exam, our enemy tribe ambushed, attacked and killed one of my uncles while I watched helplessly. I narrowly escaped unseen at a scene in Tumbiop village of the Pilikambi LLG where the incident took place a Wednesday afternoon in October 1997.
Enemies did not recognise me. If they had, I would have gone six feet under some 24 years ago.
Thank God, I survived through those difficult days and completed my studies at the PNG University of Technology, Lae, in 2003.
Year after, I joined the Enga government for four years from 2004-08. Towards the end of 2008, I quit my job and fled for refuge and safety out of province because my tribesmen also got involved in another road robbery, criminal activities and tribal conflict with some neighboring tribes near Wabag town.
Enemy tribesmen searched for anyone from my tribe for revenge and finally I was hunted down.
Enemies caught me by surprise right at the heart of Wabag town, west Enga bus stop one fine Friday afternoon of Aug 12, 2008.
I received multiple axe and knife wounds but miraculously survived after I was stripped off my clothes.
I have been through the thick and thin of tribal fighting, fully experienced how tribal war, law and order issues did affect my life as an individual and very much aware of the consequences affecting our rights as an individual, clans and tribes as a result of prolonged tribal warfare and lawlessness.
What our grandfathers/fathers did for the last 20-40 years have affected us along the way even to this day and consequences are still alarming.
Liberty to pay off any form of bride price for marriage is restricted.
How many pigs you have is for paying compensation only, and nothing else. Your effort and energy invested in taking care of your pigs for months and years for your personal need is robbed.
We are not allowed to sell pigs publicly to meet school fee needs or other personal needs. If we do, the tribe of a deceased person would demand immediate compensation. Failing that, fighting will erupt.
While compensation is pending, our clan members must always be loyal and never provoke relatives and tribesmen of the deceased. There is no freedom of speech.
We are not at liberty to fully declare and commit our time to God and worship in any church while our obligations to pay compensation remain. Our personal commitment to follow Christ is a threat to us, our families and our clan.
If no courtesy is given during speeches, what we say is used against us as a weapon by tribesmen of the deceased, which can lead to tribal warfare.
Children of today’s generation would speak up and demand for compensation for their deceased relatives who died before even they were born.
Young girls who marry into the deceased’s clan will not attract any bride price. Freedom of marriage is deprived.
If compensation is prolonged, force will be used to demand for pigs, houses razed leading to more tribal fights.
Prolonged compensation due to shortage of pigs and resources will result in payback killings.
Given these consequences and more, it is something every clan, tribe, village and communities of Lagaip is experiencing as I write.
We cannot consider this as a normal custom, tradition or norm and continue to allow them to enslave one generation after another.
Compensation may be deemed as a way out and an option for restoring peace, but pig/money/resources do not come easy.
People under pressure gathering resources for compensation is another lifetime slavery, but people do take that lightly.
There must be a way out if every individual, leaders, councillors, elites, pastors and businesspersons come together and agree to do away with these evil consequences.
If you are an elite, a leader, councillor or pastor reading this letter, you need to relay these facts to your community; tribal fight enslaves us of our freedom, robs us of our time, future generation is cursed, and government services are at stake. Tribal fighting is a disease everyone must fight to remove.
The truth is, nothing will change if nothing changes.
Change the tribal fighting mentality to peace-keeping, enslaving consequences can subside thereafter.
Someone’s experiences and testimonies may be your way out. Don’t be a fool and be caught in this similar trap for the next 40 years.

Samson Alo
Agent of Change for Lagaip