By Jim John
Police in Western Province have confirmed that several houses, trade stores, chicken farms, food gardens and vehicles have been burnt down to ashes. These items belonging to residents at the settlement especially Bak Corner and Koropa in the Star Mountains Local Level Government in North Fly District have been burned down and destroyed.
An ethnic clash between the Tari’s and Engan’s that occurred on Saturday November 25th, 2023 had resulted in fights killing at least two people and others wounded which caused residents in these settlements to flee for their lives.
According to Western Provincial Police Commander for North Fly Command, Chief Inspector Oena Afeke, police officers with the PNG Defence Force Kiunga based have contained the situation.Police officers are currently camped in nearby village in Tabubil and are continuing to monitor the situation.
“High number of joint forces, PNGDF and police are monitoring the situation and fights have been stopped. We want to ensure public safety is maintained and normal business operations in Tabubil and Western Province as a whole.” he said.
Chief Inspector Afeke has condemned such fights saying it is first of its kind in the history of Western Province that locals had experienced such an incident.
He has warned people from other provinces residing in Western Province including locals to observe and follow rules and laws governing the society to ensure normalcy and peace.
The president of Star Mountains LLG and principal traditional landowner of Tabubil plateau Borok Pitalok said this incident has posed threats to locals and businesses, therefore, those involved in fights will be dealt with accordingly.
He has also called on the leaders of Tari and Enga provinces to liase with the Western Provincial Authorities to deport those involved in fights back to their home provinces.
Business operations in North Fly, Kiunga, Ningerum and Tabubil continues as normal as Police officers and PNGDF personnel’s are monitoring the situation.
