Call for action against violence in PNG

RNZ News

30-05-2025

Satellite map view of Enga Province in Papua New Guinea.
Photo:
Google Maps
A journalist says people in Papua New Guinea want action to violence - not just the usual condemnation from leaders.
Another gruesome video is circulating social media from Enga Province, which has a recent history of tribal conflict.
RNZ Pacific
correspondent Scott Waide said people are calling on their leaders to act.
"A lot of them are asking why we keep having this kind of violence in the province and being recorded on social media," he said.
"Some people have been questioning why we've introduced anti-terror laws and yet it's being slow to be implemented in the district."
He said the video came from Kompiam-Ambun, the electorate of former speaker Sir John Pundari.
"There's been no political responses yet, the police have indicated that there are looking into it but the responses, as usual, will come a few days later.
"They don't want [just] the usual condemnation; they want condemnation and action arrests."
Waide said police have found it difficult to go into heavily armed villages and make the arrests.
"We had an incident last week where a PNG Defence Force unit had to fight its way out of an ambush.
"The total number of police killed so far since 2017, and I've counted this myself, is between 20 and 25 officers killed, either shot or stabbed or ambushed."
He said the legislation is there to tackle the outbreaks of conflict.
"They've increased the penalties for gun possession, illegal possession of firearms; they've increased the penalties for drugs.
"It's not just the implementation; it's the resourcing that will allow for the implementation to happen, for the enforcement to happen.
"It's a complex area that government is trying to deal with, but the results will take a few years."