Rival tribes make peace, ending 40 years of fighting

MEMBERS of two rival tribes embraced each other and wept as they ended years of animosity and fighting.
The peace and reconciliation ceremony at Apna village in Lower Nebilyer, Tambul-Nebilyer, Western Highlands, in particular, brought together two cousins who had been on opposing ends.
Noel Pek had joined the Palga tribe while Mark Aris joined the rival Yupka tribe. They fought each other for 40 years until Friday.
The Palga tribe gave K144,500, 200 pigs, 12 cows and a horse as compensation to the Yupka tribe members who returned the Apna, Daka and Pulip land they had seized and occupied.
“Blood families were separated. Our land became a battlefield. We lived a life of poverty because of the tribal fight,” Aris said.
“Through God, our enmity has ended.
“We have made peace and everyone has proclaimed that Nebilyer is for Jesus.”
Aris said the warring tribes regretted what had happened between them.
Pek was happy to see his cousin and to be with him.
“We cried because we thought of the difficult situation we went through. We did not eat properly, our families were scattered, innocent people died as they could not access health facilities and our children could not attend school,” he said.
“It is tears of joy, we are free at last.
“We will always be a family and make sure no conflict arises in the future.”