Papua New Guinea: Attacks and violent clashes leave dozens dead

The United Nations has reported attacks in three remote villages in northern Papua New Guinea that have left at least 26 people dead, including 16 children, and forced hundreds to flee their homes after the attackers set them on fire.

“I am appalled by the shocking outbreak of deadly violence in Papua New Guinea, which appears to be the result of a dispute over land ownership and use of a lake.”“The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said in a statement released yesterday by his office in Geneva.

The death toll could exceed 60 as authorities are still searching for missing people, Mr Turk added. More than 200 people were forced to flee their homes when they were set ablaze in attacks in East Sepik province on July 16 and 18.

Papua New Guinea, a Pacific country north of Australia that is home to hundreds of tribes with their own languages, has a long history of such conflicts. But violence has intensified in the past decade as villagers have put down their spears, bows and arrows and armed themselves with modern weapons, including assault rifles, and as election processes have deepened existing conflicts.

Angoram Police Station Commander Inspector Peter Mendy told of the horrific events in several villages in Papua New Guinea:

“Last Wednesday, the 17th, a group armed with pistols, machetes and wire catapults attacked the village of Angoram, set houses on fire and killed an elderly man and a 5-year-old boy. However, this was only the beginning of a brutal massacre of civilians. The next day, they attacked the village of Tambari, raped women and young girls and then cut them with machetes, and cut small children with machetes.”

According to him, the total number of confirmed dead reached 26 people, including 16 children. However, Peter Mendy emphasized that there are still people in the villages who are considered missing. Due to the remoteness of the villages, the police arrived at the scene of the incident a few days later and announced a search for the gang members.

Police have identified 33 suspects who may have been involved in the killings and burning of houses. The massacre of civilians has prompted UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to say he is “horrified by the shocking explosion of deadly violence in Papua New Guinea.” Türk called on the authorities to conduct a swift, impartial and transparent investigation to punish those responsible.

Tribes have been fighting each other in Papua New Guinea for centuries, but an influx of mercenaries and automatic weapons has increased the violence. Conflicts have intensified since the 2022 elections, when land laws were passed.

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