Deaths in tribal fighting in PNG's Porgera district
Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Koroi Hawkins
Six people were reportedly killed in tribal violence in Porgera, in Papua New Guinea's Enga Province, which has led to the closure of schools and businesses. The fighting has been going on for four years over a Digicel network grid tower, but has spread throughout the district. The head of a landowner association has described the violence as "ethnic cleansing," with community leaders, women, and children having been killed. Before the government can restart the Porgera mine, which Barrick Gold is set to recommence running after a two-year hiatus over lease disputes, it must address the issue on the ground, according to a local official. Barrick Gold has said it hopes to start operations before the end of this year.