Time to stop this senseless fighting

 WHY are Morobeans fighting and killing each other?

They used to one of the most peace-loving people in this country.

Morobe province had a solid reputation for producing good, law-abiding citizens and leaders, most of whom were staunch members of the Lutheran Church.

But the province and its people have not been the same since the advent of modernisation and its influences as well as the great influx of people from other provinces, especially the Highlands region.

These people brought with them their cultures and traditions, which all went into the melting pot that is Morobe today.

In particular, Lae City has seen more than its fair share of ethnic violence in recent years as Morobeans fought running battles with groups from the Highlands and other Momase provinces.

The trend seems to have changed lately, with different Morobe groups picking a fight or two among each other. At least eight people have died in renewed fighting between two groups of people in Bulolo district.

Reports indicate that the ongoing battles between the Watut people of the Bulolo hinterland and their coastal neighbours from Waria in the Morobe south coast is raging out of control.

Provincial authorities, including leaders and the police, have failed so far to resolve the conflict and halt the violence and insanity that have turned this historic mining district and township into a war zone.

Bulolo town is in total chaos, according to district administrator Tae Gwambelek.

Police station commander Inspector Timothy Pomoso reported that the Watuts lost seven lives, while the Warias lost one member since the fighting began on Sept 20.

Last Friday, fighting raged from 6am and involved the use of guns, bows and arrows, knives and axes, which resulted in the deaths of four people.

We are told the Bulolo Health Centre treated 11 people with serious injuries and later transferred them to the Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae.

“There could be more casualties unreported from both factions because some were chased into nearby bushes and were shot at or knifed,” Pomoso said. 

Gwambelek says the fight began when two Waria men, under the influence of alcohol, attacked a Watut man at the Bulolo main market.

That resulted in a retaliatory attack by the Watuts, who destroyed properties belonging to the Warias.

The renewed fighting between the two groups has affected government services and business activities in Bulolo town. Residents are living in fear of their lives and properties. 

The conflict is affecting the supply of goods and services to Bulolo and nearby Wau town as well as the operations of major companies such as the Hidden Valley Mine and PNG Forest Products Ltd. 

We are being told that the Bank South Pacific branch, post office and district treasury were closed last Friday, while Air Niugini and Airlink flights to Bulolo were cancelled.

The situation warrants more than a ceasefire or truce between the warring factions.

The National Government must heed Bulolo MP Sam Basil’s call and immediately declare a state of emergency in the Bulolo district, which will provide the necessary cover and conditions for relevant authorities, including police, to step up their efforts to end the conflict and restore normalcy.

We support Basil’s concern that his district lacks the necessary resources to control and resolve such conflicts and violence.

This is where Governor Kelly Naru needs to intervene and step up his provincial government’s assistance to Bulolo, which holds the key to Morobe’s future development, growth and prosperity.

Naru and other Morobe leaders must not allow these warring tribesmen to wreak havoc on the mining township and disrupt the operations of large businesses such as the world-class Hidden Valley gold mine.

The good governor must end the bloodshed that could spill into Lae and other parts of the province.

The payback mentality has been introduced to the once-peaceful and God-fearing Morobeans and they will need to change their mindset to revert to the good old days.