16 May 2018

Containing Highlands unrest a big challenge for PNG police

From , 3:03 pm on 16 May 2018

Papua New Guinea police forces are being stretched to the limit of their resources to maintain peace in the Highlands.

Police have succeeded in arranging peace mediation between tribes whose fighting caused around a dozen deaths in Tari, the capital of earthquake-hit Hela province, since March.

But while an uneasy truce holds in Tari, in neighbouring Enga province deadly fighting has re-ignited between two tribes in the past week.

The police commissioner, Gary Baki, told Johnny Blades the latest Enga unrest should not be linked to an election dispute.

PNG Police Commissioner, Gary Baki.

PNG Police Commissioner, Gary Baki. Photo: EMTV