By Vasinatta Yama – EMTV News, Mt Hagen
Mt Hagen City has returned to normal, after four people were killed last week from a fight between the Enga Community and the Jika Mulagamp [Mu-la-gamp] tribe of Western Highlands Province.
Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector, Jacob Kamiak, commended his police men and women for maintaining peace and good order.
The fight between the Jikas and the Engans lasted three days and suspects have been apprehended. It stopped only after two suspects from the Jika Mulagamp tribe surrendered to police last Wednesday. They were each charged with one count of murder.
PPC Kamiak said an angry exchange of stones thrown between a group of Engan men, believed to have been drunk, damaged vehicles that were parked at the Gomis Oval, during a rugby competition. Owners of the vehicles retaliated, running over two of the men.
The tribesmen of the two Engan men did not take too kindly to the attack. PPC Kamiak said a man and woman from Tambul-Nebilyer and Chimbu Province were shot by Engans, who had travelled from Laiagam in Enga Province to avenge their deaths. Both victims lived at Kimininga settlement, closed to the local Jika Mulagamp people.
The two suspects from the Jika Mulagamp tribe have been released on bail, but will appear for their court hearing. PPC Kamiak clarified that the suspects were released to prevent tension from escalating in the City. He said the Jika people were angry because the Engans did not surrender suspects within their tribe, who allegedly killed two people.
Both parties held a round table discussion at Mt Hagen Police station last week and came to an agreement to take responsibility for the deaths.
