Latest news with #EngaProvince
RNZ News
6 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Call for action against violence in Papua New Guinea
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."
RNZ News
30-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Call for action against violence in PNG
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."
RNZ News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
'They don't care' - Enga landslide survivors accuse PNG government of stalling recovery efforts
By ABC Pacific Locals dig during search and rescue efforts at the site of a landslide at Yambali village in the region of Maip Mulitaka in Papua New Guinea's Enga Province on 30 May 2024. (file image) Photo: AFP / Emmanuel Eralia More than a year since the landslide at Mulitaka in Papua New Guinea's Enga Province left hundreds dead, many survivors are frustrated with authorities over the state of recovery. One community leader Andrew Ruing says the government hasn't lived up to its pledges such as the rebuilding of homes. He says government relief and resettlement efforts to the impacted villages of Yambali and Kaokalam appear to be in a state of abandonment. "They're not honouring their promises, the government is failing us big time," said Mr Ruing. Andrew Ruing was in Mulitaka when the landslide struck, and was among those digging through the rubble to rescue the buried. He says many bodies still haven't been recovered and former residents are either living in tents or evacuated to other areas. "There's no recovery," he said. "Bodies are still buried, there are no houses, no food gardens. everything has been destroyed…people are scattered everywhere," he added. One survivor, Wamblip Junior shares that frustration. He lost two children in the disaster, and says he feels abandoned. He says that people want to return to their villages but are waiting for the government to rebuild houses. "They don't care," he said. "We are still living tents, there's no work, we need services like schools and offices. "It's too are still in need of help." A community leader in Mulitaka, Willie Ipuia, blames poor organisation and leadership. He says a chairman is yet to be appointed to lead a Mulitaka resettlement authority and organise the overall recovery. In addition to this, Mr Ipuia alleges that foreign donor money meant to finance the recovery is not being used, and many in the community believe its being lost to corruption. "We are not satisfied, because most of the money that was donated to us by foreign donors for the recovery was kept in a trust by the government, approximately around 200 million kina," he said "We are yet to get financial reports from the provincial government of Enga as to how they have used some of the money donated," said Mr Ipuia. "There is disappointment in the national government for delaying the appointment of a chairman to the resettlement authority." Red Cross official Samuel Bariasi says Mulitaka is just one of many areas in Papua New Guinea where help is needed. He says for the Red Cross, limited resources, the remoteness of communities and tribal violence are making humanitarian efforts a challenge. "Sometimes it costs a lot to move emergency relief items from one location to another because most of assistance needs to be imported from other countries and then shipped to the affected areas," said Mr Bariasi. "Rural remoteness and tribal violence that is present in the affected communities is a real challenge," he added. ABC Pacific has reached out to the Papua New Guinea government for comment. - ABC
ABC News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
'They don't care' - Enga landslide survivors accuse PNG Government of stalling recovery efforts
More than a year since the landslide at Mulitaka in Papua New Guinea's Enga Province left hundreds dead, many survivors are frustrated with authorities over the state of recovery. One community leader Andrew Ruing says the Government hasn't lived up to its pledges such as the rebuilding of homes. He says Government relief and resettlement efforts to the impacted villages of Yambali and Kaokalam appear to be in a state of abandonment. "They're not honouring their promises, the government is failing us big time,' said Mr Ruing. Andrew Ruing was in Mulitaka when the landslide struck, and was among those digging through the rumble to rescue the buried. He says many bodies still haven't been recovered and former residents are either living in tents or evacuated to other areas. "There's no recovery,' he said. 'Bodies are still buried, there are no houses, no food gardens. everything has been destroyed…people are scattered everywhere,' he added. One survivor, Wamblip Junior shares that frustration. He lost two children in the disaster, and says he feels abandoned. Mr Wamblip says that people want to return to their villages but are waiting for the Government to rebuild houses. "They don't care," he said. "We are still living tents, there's no work, we need services like schools and offices, "It's too are still in need of help." A community leader in Mulitaka, Willie Ipuia, blames poor organisation and leadership. He says a chairman is yet to be appointed to lead a Mulitaka resettlement authority and organise the overall recovery. In addition to this, Mr Ipuia alleges that foreign donor money meant to finance the recovery is not being used, and many in the community believe its being lost to corruption. "We are not satisfied, because most of the money that was donated to us by foreign donors for the recovery was kept in a trust by the government, approximately around 200 million kina,' he said 'We are yet to get financial reports from the provincial government of Enga as to how they have used some of the money donated," said Mr Ipuia. 'There is disappointment in the national Government for delaying the appointment of a chairman to the resettlement authority.' Red Cross official Samuel Bariasi says Mulitaka is just one of many areas in Papua New Guinea where help is needed. He says for the Red Cross, limited resources, the remoteness of communities and tribal violence are making humanitarian efforts a challenge. "Sometimes it costs a lot to move emergency relief items from one location to another because most of assistance needs to be imported from other countries and then shipped to the to the areas the affected areas, which quite far from,' said Mr Bariasi. 'Rural remoteness and tribal violence that is present in the affected communities is a real challenge" he added. ABC Pacific has reached out to the Government for comment.
RNZ News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Pacific news in brief for 13 May
The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court has been asked by the opposition to review the decision by parliament to change the law on votes of no confidence. In March, James Marape's government pushed through a constitutional amendment, introducing an 18-month grace period after any unsuccessful vote of no confidence against a sitting prime minister. The amendment, passed with a 81-4 vote, was hailed by Marape as a crucial step towards fostering political stability. Critics have said removing opportunities for votes of no confidence undermines the country's democracy. Political scientist Michael Kabuni called the availability of the vote a "safety valve" that can ease political tension in PNG. The court will hear the application on 22 May. People in Enga Province have been warned that security force officers will arrest and charge anyone carrying offensive weapons in public places. Provincial police commander Chief Superintendent Fred Yakasa told local media people carrying bush knives, axes, knives, any sharp objects, guns, bullets and cartridges will be arrested and charged. He said he has told all of his police officers and security officers to confiscate such weapons and not entertain any excuses. Yakasa said people are being slashed in a matter of seconds in public places, which leads to further uprising in communities with tribal fights. The Fiji Cabinet has agreed to seek an opinion from the Supreme Court over the amendment provisions of the 2013 constitution. The coalition government said it is looking for clarification around the interpretation and application of the amendment provisions. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka's administration failed in its bid to win enough support in parliament to amend the document. Rabuka could not get the 75 percent support needed to amend the constitution during the Constitutional Amendment Bill's second reading. The government has now hired Australian barrister Bret Walker to provide legal representation in the court. Two new ministers have been sworn in at Government House in Solomon Islands. The pair fill the last of the portfolios left vacant after a mass resignation that sparked a brief period of political uncertainty. A motion of no confidence against prime minister Jeremiah Manele was ultimately withdrawn. Government House has confirmed to RNZ Pacific the two new ministers are Bradley Tovosia taking up the Fisheries and Marine Resources portfolio, and John Tuhaika Jr, who is minister for Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs. Prior to all of the floor-crossing, Tovosia had been deputy prime minister and minister of mines. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson Cook Islands traditional leaders are calling for compulsory Māori language education alongside English. The House fo Ariki made the request during an education conference on Rarotonga, where they also asked for tradititional knowledge to be more widely taught. High chief Tou Travel Ariki said for the first time the house of Ariki has collectively articulated their vision for an inclusive education system that places language and culture at its core.
