16 Dec 2016

More violent unrest in PNG's Hela province

From , 5:04 am on 16 December 2016

The police command in Papua New Guinea's Hela province has again warned about the build-up of high-powered weapons in the region.

Hela's capital Tari is in lockdown after another tribal fight involving automatic guns and drive-by shooting caused damage and terrified locals on Sunday.

Tari's airport remains closed, and that bank services are operating only at restricted level after the unrest, the latest in a surge of deadly tribal clashes in Hela province this year.

The acting Provincial Police Commander Daniel Yangen told Johnny Blades that local business people and residents have petitioned the provincial government to guarantee their safety.

Tari, Hela province, Papua New Guinea.

Tari, Hela province, Papua New Guinea. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades