Bloodbath in Kiriwina Islands: 32 dead
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Bloodbath in Kiriwina Islands: 32 dead
PORT MORESBY: At least 32 people have been killed in an
all-out tribal war between Kulumata and Kuboma tribes in Milne Bay’s Kiriwina
Islands.
Internal security
Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jr confirmed the killings that erupted early last month
after yam gardens were destroyed.
“A police team from Port
Moresby was deployed yesterday morning to the island to contain and manage the
raging war.
“The police commissioner
(David Manning) is in charge of the operations and directives,” he added.
The news break was reported by The National:
Tribal fight claims 32
lives
October 26, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
By REBECCA KUKU
AT least 32 people
have been killed in an all-out war between Kulumata and Kuboma tribes in Milne
Bay’s Kiriwina Islands.
Internal Security Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jr confirmed the killings that
erupted early last month after yam gardens were destroyed.
“A police team from Port Moresby was deployed yesterday morning to the island
to contain and manage the raging war.
“The Commissioner of Police David Manning is in charge of the operations and
directives.
“He has advised me that he is taking swift and appropriate action.
“Police will help forge peace,” he added.
According to sources on the ground, the fight started in early September when a
man from Kuboma tribe was killed in a fight over a soccer game.
The situation remained tense since then and escalated on Monday, when the
Kuboma villagers (seven villages inland that include Bwetalu, Yalaka,
Buduwalaka, Kuluwa, Luya, Wabutuma and Gumilababa villages) allegedly destroyed
all the yam gardens of the Kulumata villages (Kavataria, Mulosaida and Orabesi
villages).
The Kulumata villagers went up to the station to demand answers from the
district development authority on why their yam gardens were destroyed and for
authorities to address the situation when they were attacked by the Kuboma
villagers who were already there waiting for them.
An all-out tribal warfare with traditional spears and bush knives broke out
between the two parties, that led to 26 people being killed from the Kuboma
side and about six people killed from the Kulumata side.
Another source said that it was “frightening to see such violence on their
island” that is locally known or dubbed as the “Island of love”.
“Tribal fighting has always been part of our lives and culture.
“But normally when someone got killed, the fighting stopped, they cease fire
and start the traditional process of dealing with the death, and they do not
just continue fighting like this.”
“The Kulumata and the Kuboma people are all related to each other and it is
heartbreaking for us as mothers, sisters, daughters to watch our people fight
amongst themselves like this.” But you must also understand that our gardens
are very important to us.”
Attempts to get comments from the local MP and Deputy Opposition Leader Douglas
Tomuriesa was unsuccessful yesterday.
“Our yams are important and very valuable, to see them chopped off, destroyed,
yes our men would be so angry, because we value our gardens.”
They (men) painted themselves in the traditional war colors and went up to the
station to show their frustration. When they met the other party, they started
fighting, and we ran away with our children. They will not harm women and
children but it was just too frightening to watch, so we ran away,” the source
said.
Attempts to get comments from the local MP and Deputy Opposition Leader Douglas
Tomuriesa was unsuccessful yesterday.
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