2024-02-19T13:44:04+00:00
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/ Papua New Guinea police announced on Monday that 64 people were killed in the northwest of the country, suggesting that they were killed in an ambush by tribal gunmen.
“The death toll is likely to rise, and we believe there are still some bodies in the bushes,” Assistant Commissioner of Police Samson Kwa said, according to Agence France-Presse.
Earlier, Police Commissioner David Manning gave a preliminary toll, saying officers and soldiers had recovered the bodies of 53 men believed to have been killed near the town of Wabag, 600 kilometres (370 miles) northwest of the capital, Port Moresby.
He noted that “additional elements are deployed in the highlands area in the event of violence, and they will be allowed to use any level of force.”
“There are specific operations underway to restore law and order,” Manning said, adding that “these individuals have clear instructions to use whatever level of force is necessary to prevent further violence and retaliation.”
The exact circumstances in which they were killed were not immediately clear, but police said: “There are reports of heavy gunfire.”
The incident is believed to be linked to a conflict between the Sekin and Kaykin tribesmen.
“We believe there are still bodies in the bush,” Deputy Police Commissioner Samson Kwa added.
Police received videos and photos allegedly from the scene, showing bloodied and badly injured bodies lying on the side of a road, and others piled in the back of a truck.
Clans in the Papua New Guinea highlands have been fighting for centuries, but the influx of automatic weapons has made the clashes more deadly and escalated the cycle of violence.
“The shooters used a veritable arsenal of weapons, including SLRs, AK-47s, M4s, AR15s, M16s, as well as locally made rifles and firearms,” Koa said.
Fighting appears to be ongoing in a rural area near where the violence occurred.”
“Many of those killed are believed to be mercenaries, men who roam the countryside offering to help tribes settle scores with their rivals,” said Patrick Bika, acting police chief in the area.
“The police and the government can’t do much when leaders and educated elites supply arms and ammunition and hire the services of militants,” Beka added.
The island’s government has tried to use repression, mediation, amnesty and a range of other strategies to control the violence, with little success.
The army deployed about 100 soldiers in the area, but the impact was limited, and the presence of the security services is still insufficient in terms of numbers and weapons.
Violence often occurs in isolated communities where clans launch attacks or ambushes in retaliation for previous attacks.
The abuses committed are often extremely violent, with victims being hacked with machetes, burned, mutilated or tortured.
The poorly paid police officers claim that they do not have the means to do their job.
Opponents of Prime Minister James Marape’s government on Monday called for more police to be deployed and for the police commissioner to resign.
Papua New Guinea’s population has more than doubled since 1980, increasing pressure on land and resources and exacerbating tribal rivalries.
Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of neighbouring Australia, described the incident as “very disturbing” on Monday.
“We are providing significant support, particularly to train police and security personnel in Papua New Guinea,” he told the public broadcaster.
“We remain ready to provide any possible support,” he added.