Five huge pigs and a cash payment of K20,000 were presented to Gegru Tribe of Bundi as “Wari Pay” by the Emigari Tribe of Bundi, Madang Province.
“Wari Pay” is a method of payment for compensation practiced by communities in the Bundi area of Madang.
The purpose of this particular ceremony was to settle grievances that arose after a tribal fight occurred between both tribes on the 28th of December 2020.
The outcome of that tribal fight resulted in 10 houses burnt to ashes, several pigs slaughtered and other possessions of the Gegru tribe destroyed.
During the ‘Wari pay’ ceremony, the Gegru tribe presented their compensation demand or ‘brown paper’ as it is known to the Emigari tribe.
This included a demand for payment of K150,000 and ten pigs to be paid by the 3rd week of January 2020.
During the exchange, leader of the Gegru tribe, Angia Freddy, thank the Kumura Foundation, a local community-based organisation of Bundi for stepping in to restore peace on the 29th of December when the tribe conflict was still fresh.
Yuwuno Kommit, magistrate of the Gegru Village court of Bundi LLG accepted the ‘Compensation Demand’ in the presence of other magistrates and Ward councillors of Upper Bundi.
Given the remoteness of the area, locals do not make much money. Therefore, community leaders of the area are appealing to the LLG President of Bundi, David Gakana, Usino Bundi MP, Jimmy Uguro and Madang Governor, Peter Yama to step in and assist them in solving this problem.
Meanwhile, both tribes have agreed that there will not be any more fights between the two and normalcy has been restored.
The event was witnessed by five major tribes of Bundi, village magistrates and councillors and the team Kumura Foundation.
