Peace sought at a price — K10m

A massive K10 million in compensation was demanded by Enga people on Friday over the death of four men and destruction of properties during a clash in Mount Hagen last year.The Engans clashed with Jika tribesmen of Western Highlands after the death of a Jika man at one of the hotels owned by a Moge tribesman in February.The Enga people through different petitions also demanded a total of 1046 pigs, 30 cassowaries and 14 cows.

Of the K10 million, the State has been tasked with the responsibility to pay K4.6 million for the loss of property through burning down of 116 houses and looting of 129 houses.Relatives of Timothy Moses, a Lihir Gold mine employee who was murdered while on his way to work, demanded K4.8 million and 556 pigs and this would also cover the loss of his father’s business.Organising committee chairman Joe Tomorop said the relatives of Mr Moses used 934 pigs to deal with the death in the traditional way but were demanding only 556 pigs and this was also contained in the petition handed to Police Commissioner Gari Baki who was chairing the meeting between the two groups on Friday.

COVERED in white clay are relatives of the four men who died during an ethnic clash between Engan settlers and Western Highlanders in Mt Hagen last year. They are sitting in the street in front of the Highlander Hotel where the leaders from Enga and Western Highlands met on Friday.
Picture: KOMES PAITA

The balance of the demand would be for three other deaths and another wounded, who allegedly was the cause of the whole trouble.Relatives of Dickson Henry who was allegedly wounded during the troubles demanded K100,000 and 100 pigs, while relatives of the late Michael Waiyo want K150,000, 120 pigs, 10 cassowaries and four cows.

The relatives of Peter Perain demand K200,000, 150 pigs, 10 cassowaries and five cows and the late William Henry’s people want K150,000. 120 pigs, 10 cassowaries and five cows.Some of the relatives want the compensations to be paid by August this year while some want the Western Highlanders to set the time for settlement.

Meanwhile, the Jika tribe demanded a total of K170,000 and 170 pigs for the death of their two men.They also said the Engans should compensate them first as one of their tribesmen was the first to die, allegedly at the hands of the Engans and at a function organised by Engans. Meanwhile, Mr Baki as chairman of the meeting called on the two factions to have the demands contained in petitions brought to the peace and good order committees and allow them to broker the peace negotiations and deal with the petitions.

By ROBERT PALME of the Post Courier

*** I commend the right procedures approached to solve the ethical conflicts but such enormous demands of compensation, which I believe is too much. However, those who got themselves involved in the first place must bear the burden.

On the other hand, the government should regulate laws to abolish compensation demands or set it at a minimal level for others to meet. Compensation demands are becoming a norm in the highlands parts of Papua New Guinea. Is there a possibility for highlands MPs and other leaders to discuss ways to do away with this cargo-cult mentality?