Tribal warriors shootouts kill 30 in Papua New Guinea

Shootouts between hundreds of tribal warriors have left at least 30 people dead in Papua New Guinea’s highlands, police said on September 16, as security forces were given emergency powers to quell the violence, Report informs referring to Punch.

Police said the unrest started in August when “illegal miners” inflicted life-threatening injuries on a landowner in the Porgera Valley, home to one of Papua New Guinea’s largest gold deposits.

Peace talks failed, and the situation spiraled into intense tribal fighting that saw 300 shots fired on Sunday alone, according to police commander Joseph Tondop.

Police said 30 men had been killed across the rival clans and hundreds of women and children displaced, with “many” homes burned to the ground.

Two officials were also killed while waiting for a lift home after work, said Tondop.

Police Commissioner David Manning said “lethal force” would be used to restore order in the hard-to-reach highlands region.

“Put simply, this means if you raise a weapon in a public place or to threaten another person, you will be shot,” Manning said in a statement at the weekend.

“This deteriorating situation has been caused by illegal miners and illegal settlers who are victimising traditional landowners and using violence to terrorise local communities.”

Police said illegal miners from the Sakar clan had been squatting on land owned by their Piande rivals.

Alcohol sales have been banned and an overnight curfew is in place, added Manning, who vowed to remove the artisanal miners from the valley.

Tribal conflicts are a frequent occurrence in Papua New Guinea’s highlands, but an influx of automatic weapons has made clashes deadlier.