Warring Nebilyer tribes forge peace

MORE than 70 pigs and K30,000 in cash sealed a peace agreement between two warring tribes in the Nebilyer district of Western Highlands last Saturday.
The Kulga tribe signed a formal peace agreement with the Togla Wanka tribe pledging never to fight again and ending all violent disputes.
The two tribes had been involved in  tribal warfare which has spanned nearly 40 years.
The fight had claimed more than 100 lives, destruction of thousands of kina worth of property and had, through the years, forced children to grow up in the  violent art of tribal fighting in the 38-year dispute that formally ended in 2007.
The peace agreement reached last weekend was the first proof to show that the tribes were serious about making peace.
The peace ceremony was organised by the Kulga for Jesus peace and reconciliation committee which went ahead despite the killing of a Kulga man almost two weeks ago by the Hapwara enemy tribe.
Leaders in the area said that restoring peace was difficult and such an initiative taken by the committee members and the churches was a positive step for a better future for the locals.
The leaders also said there were no positive outcomes from fighting and had resolved to “fight by the law and not with guns”.
Committee chairman Pr Francis Bomudi, councillor Timothy Kain, Nebillyer LLG council president Tony Wek and peace coordinator Amos Melpa shared the same sentiments that all they wanted was for the rule of law to prevail in their area.
In 2007, the warring tribes surrendered their guns and placed a bag of soil in church symbolising that their land was now dedicated to the Lord and that there would always be peace.