PORAP GAI
LAIAGAM - The Papua New Guinea government needs to establish firmer law and order.
I am not a politician, I am a pastor. I have the pastoral responsibility for the innocent lives so often lost.
Lack of discipline is of concern due to the wantok system. There must be better rule of law in place to allow everyone to live in security.
I was brought up in a land of no choice - born to die, born for adversaries. There never exists benevolence in the minds of tribesmen in isolated societies in wild west Laiagam.
The wild west is the back page of Wabag town in Enga Province. People from Kandep, Laiagam and Porgera Districts are all classified as wild west. Everyone knows these people and are afraid of coming to west Enga.
A lot of chronic issues like natural disasters, frosts, droughts, landslides, bushfires and floods shape the land. While on the other hand there is human violence, criminal activity, drunkenness and drug taking, roadblocks and other such concerning matters.
The wild west is a vast, highly populated archipelago burdened by poverty even though Porgera gold mine is located in Enga. In west Enga, tribal conflicts occur frequently. Women and children are particularly threatened by violence.
Traditionally, fights between tribes erupt over land disputes, bride price or ownership of pigs. The pig is the most valuable item for compensation, bride price and funerals in Engan society.
If the law order sector progressed there would be less violence occurring. And if the judiciary punished the guilty more honestly then there would be less or no violence.
Therefore, the government needs to improve the law and order sector and introduce new laws and rules to protect the citizens of PNG.