Mt Hagen is sitting on a time bomb, we must change

As a very concerned law abiding Hagener, the once pride of the Highlands, Mt Hagen City is literally sitting on a time bomb, ready to be ignited by the ethnic Melpa-speaking Hageners who have no respect for the lives of people from other races and other provinces. I as a local educated Hagener with the right frame of mind find the activities of my tribesman uncivilised, unethical and uncalled for.

I am very ashamed seeing local people taking over the city and terrorising non-Hageners at will, with many losing their lives and properties. On the other hand the law enforcing agencies so it seems, have no control over the ever escalating lawlessness in the city. They have lost the plot.During a short visit back to Mt Hagen recently while telling stories with the villagers, I found that the recent ethnic clash between the Western Highlanders and the settlers of Hagen school that saw many lives lost and millions of kina worth of properties destroyed and burnt to ashes, was orchestrated by the Hageners.

(Mount Hagen's Komkui Building - one of the symbols that represents the Moge Komonka people in the heart of the city, pic by D.Ketepa 2008)

I learnt that the settlers were innocent of anything that would have triggered the situation.Sadly and worse still, none of the so-called chiefs and of the nearby villagers have spoken against what has been done to outsiders by their young people. I will not name names here, but these leaders of Hagen Central are a disgrace to some of us who don't think like the rest of you. You are very proud and so arrogant of being a Western Highlander, even to the the extent of condoning the actions of your people, that you don't see it slowly eating away your integrity and character.On the other hand, where are the local indigenous pastors, the shepherds of Mt Hagen City.

It seems apparent that you have compromised your position. Why are you silent like your local chiefs. I found it hard to believe that you have done nothing. Makes me wonder as to where our loyalty lies. It is either in the Word of God or our obligation to our tribal groupings.Finally, let me warn my fellow Hageners that if we don't change our ways, we will see things worse than the burning down of Kapal Haus and the ethnic clash of Hagen T School.

So many innocent lives have been wasted on our soil and far more have been terrorised by us on our land and I have no doubt that Hagen City is sitting on a time bomb. Only you and I can change the direction of our beloved city. Do not wait for it to happen.

Kintest Kange.
Gerehu Stage 2
Port Moresby


*** I share the same sentiments with the above writer that most Hageners don't take pride in their own town. The Jikas and Moges who live near and around the periphery of the town should make it their business to maintain the town well.

During my two months in Mount Hagen last year, I had to take my local boys to escort me around because I was told that I would be robbed in broad daylight if I am not familiar to them. I mean, a new face in Hagen is most likely to be robbed? Robbed by who? Mostly Jikas, Moges, and a few Engans who live in settlements around Mount Hagen. Now that, there is cellphones in any corner of PNG, these cases are worse because robbers use cellphones to make quick arrangements.

To me, this sounded strange in a town where I grew up. When a Jika (myself) is being treated in this kind of manner, we have a serious problem on our hands to solve. I call upon the elite Jikas and Moges to put their political differences aside and work collaboratively to make Mount Hagen city a better city to do business, work, live, and enjoy life. In the meantime, it's not safe anymore in the highlands' biggest town. This, indeed is a sad scenario!