The attacks led to the displacement of over 200 people, who fled their homes and sought refuge at a police station, too terrified to identify the perpetrators. The assailants are still at large, and no arrests have been made yet. The UN and local authorities are deeply concerned that the death toll could rise as the search for missing persons continues.
This tragic event highlights the insane and backward issues in Papua New Guinea, including longstanding territorial disputes and the belief in sorcery, which often leads to violent conflicts. The region has over 800 indigenous languages and a tribal land ownership system, which exacerbates these disputes. The lack of clear borders and limited police resources make it challenging to maintain order and prevent such violence.
Chris Jensen, the country director for World Vision, pointed out that accusations of sorcery, along with land ownership disputes, are common triggers for violence in Papua New Guinea. UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, expressed horror at the “shocking eruption of deadly violence,” emphasizing the dire situation and the urgent need for intervention.
East Sepik Governor Allan Bird noted that violence in the region has escalated over the past decade, with the police force being under-resourced and unable to effectively intervene. The situation in Papua New Guinea is further complicated by its rugged terrain and the difficulty in accessing remote areas, making it challenging to provide accurate population counts or adequate security.
This incident is not isolated; similar acts of violence have occurred this year. In May, eight people were killed, and 30 homes were burned in the Enga province. In February, at least 26 men were killed in an ambush in the same region. Blake Johnson, an analyst at the Australian Security Policy Institute, remarked that while the East Sepik killings are particularly gruesome, they are part of a broader pattern of escalating violence in the country. The cultural acceptance, or even encouragement, of retaliatory violence exacerbates the situation.