PNG police say leaders can stop tribal warfare

Transcript

The police commander of Papua New Guinea's Hela province says a state of emergency won't stop tribal fighting in the area.

The fighting first started in 2012, when the Hela province was created, over a dispute over land.
 
PNG MP for Komo Margarima, Francis Potape, has called for a state of emergency to quell the violence.

He has said the huge liquefied natural gas project in the region has led to growing lawlessness and disrespect for the rule of law.

But superintendent Mark Yangen told Amelia Langford a state of emergency is only a short-term fix and leaders need to step in to negotiate the peace.

MARK YANGEN: Well, the situation is that it is quiet but very tense. Nothing is happening right now but it is very quiet. So the situation started in 2012 over an argument over a piece of land and ever since there have been killings here and there and there have been 25 lives lost. So, what is happening now, the provincial government has committed about a million kina to assist police operations in Hela. The money has not been made available yet but we are waiting for the funds to assist me in this operation.

AMELIA LANGFORD: So you really need to have the reinforcements to control the situation?

MY: Correct. I need reinforcements because I don't have enough manpower to cover the whole area and I have only 80 policeman in here so I can't handle the situation and we have a couple of other trouble fights in the province. So definitely, I have already asked my police headquarters in Port Moresby and also the commander of the Highlands in Mt Hagen so I am waiting for their response.

AL: When do you think they will arrive?

MY: Well that also depends on the money again you know.  That is for the National Government to maybe look for some money and to provide for this operation. So really at this point in time, I don't know. The politicians say they will commit money but when that money comes available is the question, yes.

AL: One PNG MP, Francis Potape, has called for a state of emergency. Do you think that is needed?
 
MY: From previous experiences, I have been involved in state of emergency operations in the southern highlands, and other areas of the country, when you are looking at a state of emergency, you are looking at a month or two month operation. Everyone goes very quiet, no troubles, no nothing, and then everybody returns
it is a waste of time, waste of money to declare a state of emergency.

AL: As you mentioned it started in 2012, it is an ongoing dispute, what can be done to solve this problem?

MY: Well, I suggest the leaders of the groups they have to come together. At this point in time, the leaders are not contributing anything to bringing the peace...Once the leaders get to their people, on both sides and start talking to them, I think the people will listen. This is including both the leaders at a national and at a provincial level to come down and work with the police to stop this fighting and bring peace to the area.