(Report by Police Media Officer Andrew Philip)
Enga Provincial Police Commander (PPC) acting Superintendent George Kakas says security personnel consisting of Enga’s Mobile Squad and the PNG Defence Force are maintaining close watch over Porgera following a recent incident where five people were killed and others wounded.
Mr Kakas said the security forces consisting of the local police, Mobile Squad 11 from Wabag and a platoon of PNG Défense Force troops of 2RPIR are currently monitoring the situation and maintaining peace.
He said the security forces also rescued a woman from Kandep who was kidnapped and allegedly taken by the Aiyela tribesmen. The security forces pursued the raiding party and rescued her with minor injuries.
“Police will investigate, and we will make arrests,” Mr Kakas said.
The PPC said the recent killing is disappointing especially when the security personnel had done a tremendous job in securing the peace treaty and brought back public confidence and normalcy to the township of Porgera. He said public servants were returning to work, basic services such as schools, hospitals, shops and the BSP Porgera branch had just opened their doors. He said the public were still reeling with the trauma of a previous fight and this latest killing is causing stress and anxiety again in the township.
“But I want to advise the public, the business community, and the public servants that we are treating this situation as an isolated case and doing our best to contain the situation.
“I am pleased to note also that the Normali Tribe has promised not to retaliate and will allow police to investigate and arrest those involved.
“The Porgera Police Station Commander (PSC), Senior Inspector Martin Kelei, is going around the community assuring the public that the situation is under control,” Mr Kakas said.
PPC Kakas, who has served for two terms as the province’s provincial police commander, said that it is very encouraging to see an emerging trend in Enga where tribes are refusing to take up arms and allowing the law to deal with their grievances instead.
Commissioner of Police David Manning has issued new transfer directives which sees Mr Kakas transferred to Eastern Highlands as the new provincial police commander. Superintendent Michael Welly has been transferred from Eastern Highlands to take up his new role as PPC Enga. The new transfers are effective immediately and to be complied with by the 29th of March.
The out-going PPC said the Aiyela tribesmen were alleged to have attacked Kairik village in the Porgera District and killed five people and injured several others.
Mr Kakas said among the five killed, was a man from Tari in the Hela province, a man from the Normali tribe and a woman from Kairik village in Porgera. He said several others received severe burns when their houses were set alight.
Mr Kakas said the Aiyela tribesmen were reported to have joined forces with the Epekapi tribesmen and attacked the Kairik villagers. He said the real motive is yet to be established. But this could be related to a recent fight in which a peace treaty was signed between the Aiyela and Normali tribe, as one of the five killed is from the Normali Tribe. The others killed are from tribes who are allies of the Normali tribe.
The PPC said his initial concern was that these killings could reignite a recent fight between the Aiyela and the Normali tribes. He said the two warring tribes had already accepted “preventive orders” and a peace agreement was signed declaring a cease fire following 12 months of fighting which saw more than 100 people killed.
However, Mr Kakas is pleased that the Normali tribe have promised that they will not retaliate but allow the law to take its course, especially since conditions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of the peace accord signed between Normali and Aiyela tribes were breached.
Mr Kakas reassured relatives of those killed and the public that police are investigating the murders and expects to make arrests soon.
