A tribe from Mt. Hagen, Western Highlands has paid compensation to a tribe fromthe Dei district overthe killing of a businessman and councilor three months ago.
The late councilor Raymond Raima had been negotiating peace withthe Komunka tribe at Tiling Village when his leg was severed with a bush knife and he dlied from loss of blood.
The peace ceremony held last Saturday atthe Pope’s Oval in Mt. Hagen was quite a sight. A massive crowd could be seen moving intothe ceremony venue wherethe Mogei Komunka Kuipi tribe of Mt. Hagen andthe Nelga tribe of Dei made peace.
The lLeadersof Komunka Kuipi tribe admittedthe killing ofthe Nelga leader by a drug addict youth fromtheir tribe and apologized for the killing ofthe innocent counselor.
A total of one hundred and twenty seven pigs, seven cows, and a sum of two hundred and ten thousand kina were paid tothe Nelga tribe.
They thankedthe Dei lLeadersfor acceptingtheir peace offering.
Council President and Deputy Governor of Western Highlands Wai Rapa toldthe gthering that not everyone was involved withthe killing, but that it wasthe action of one person. Mr. Rapa said this type of killing had to stop.
Western Highlands Peace Chairman Peter Pilamb said Dei District had lost a good leader and businessman under appalling circumstances.
The Member for Dei Wesley Nukundi was commended for takingthe lead inthe peace process. Mr. Nukundi, who personally arranged for the funeral expenses ofthe late Councilor, thankedthe people of his district for acceptingthe peace ceremony.
Whilethe ceremony was an achievementother lLeadersfrom Dei agreed that money and materials did not equalthe value ofthe life ofthe late Councilor.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=67pEoBekve4%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
