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Tribal conflicts in Papua New Guinea | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Agarabi-Tapo | Aiyala-Nomali | Kuboma-Kulumata |
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Casualties and losses | |||||||
170+ deaths[1] and 30,000 displaced[2] |
The tribal conflicts in Papua New Guinea are ongoing conflicts between the tribal clans Agarabi, Tapo, Aiyala, Nomali, Kuboma, Kulumata and the governmental security forces.
History
editBackground
editUnder Australian colonial rule, the inter-tribal wars were banned and also after the indipendence tribal disputes were solved peacefully.[3] After the end of the Bougainville conflict, tribal conflicts and warfares started again over disputes for lands and mines between tribal clans.[4] Tribal wars have tended to escalate as an attack on one tribesman has been considered an attack on the whole community. The conflicts are often sparked by disputes over land and resources and as the region has seen in influx of modern weapons, like M16 assault rifles and a hand grenade, these conflicts have become deadlier.[5]
Agarabi-Tapo conflict
editIn 2021, two tribal clans, Agarabi clan and Tapo clan, started fighting each other over a piece of land known for alluvial mining. Police tried to contain the violence and the families were supposed to compensate each other.[6] Community leaders, law and justice sector leaders formed a Peace and Good order committee in March 2021 and prepared for the signing of a ceasefire on 8 April. The warring tribes were on their way to the office to sign a peace agreement when two women started quarrelling over a domestic matter and the conflict escaleted again. During the clashes, lot of villages and houses were burnt and destroyed.[7] After negotiations, a ceasefire agreement was signed on 5 May 2021 and a peace agreement on 24 June 2021.[8]
Aiyala-Nomali conflict
editAnother tribal war erupted at the same time in Porgera town between Aiyala and Nomali clans over a dispute for lands and large gold and silver mines. The ongoing clashes erupted expecially in Paiam where the two clans have burned as many as 100 houses and starterd attacking police and soldiers.[9] During the clashes, policemen and soldiers killed at least 5 civilians.[10]
Kuboma-Kulumata conflict
editOn September 2022, another tribal war erupted over the killing of a Kulumata man for a soccer game and after Kuboma men destroyed yam harvests on 19 October.[11] In the clashes more than 30 peoples were killed.[12]
Human rights violations
editDuring the clashes between the tribe clans, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, there have been cases of human rights violations from all sides: there have been cases of sexual violence, destruction of houses and villages, killings of civilians, also perpetred by policemen and soldiers, and the deployment of child soldiers.[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "UCDP - Uppsala Conflict Data Program". ucdp.uu.se.
- ^ "Tribal Violence in Papua New Guinea". www.icrc.org.
- ^ Francis, Chantelle (October 25, 2022). "30 dead in massacre on Papua New Guinea's "island of love" after tribal warfare". News.com.au. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Police warn of 'all-out war' as tribal violence in Papua New Guinea kills 19". www.theguardian.com.
- ^ "UCDP - Uppsala Conflict Data Program". ucdp.uu.se.
- ^ "The United Nations Calls for Peace in Eastern Highlands Province". papuanewguinea.un.org.
- ^ "Police warn of 'all-out war' as tribal violence in Papua New Guinea kills 19". www.theguardian.com.
- ^ "Clans make peace after three weeks of fighting". www.thenational.com.pg.
- ^ "Papua New Guinea: Communal fighting ongoing in Porgera, Enga Province, as of April 28". crisis24.garda.com.
- ^ "UCDP - Uppsala Conflict Data Program". ucdp.uu.se.
- ^ "PNG official confirms 30 dead in tribal clash". RNZ. 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
- ^ "'Frightening to see such violence' in tribal war on PNG's Kiriwina island | Asia Pacific Report". Retrieved 2023-04-17.
- ^ "Tribal Violence in Papua New Guinea". www.icrc.org.
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