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Papua New Guinea's highlands region has been plunged into a state of shock and horror after the discovery of 64 bloodied bodies in the latest escalation in tribal conflict that has plagued the area for centuries.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Samson Kua revealed the grim discovery on Monday. He said that the bodies were found following what appeared to be a brutal ambush in the wee hours of Sunday. The incident unfolded near the town of Wabag, situated 600 kilometers (370 miles) northwest of the capital Port Moresby.
Papua New Guinea - Massacre! At least 53 people have been killed in a massacre in the highlands. A tribe and mercenaries were ambushed as they headed to attack a rival tribe in the Enga province, in the country's remote highlands. Here they are before the ambush🇵🇬 pic.twitter.com/eF5zV7MLO7
— 🇬🇧RonEnglish🇬🇧🏴 (@RonEng1ish) February 19, 2024
"We believe there are still some bodies... out there in the bush," Kua informed AFP, hinting at the possibility of additional casualties yet to be accounted for.
Aftermath of the massacre, videos and images surfaced on social media platforms which depicted a scene of unimaginable horror. The images reveal stripped and bloodied bodies strewn along the roadside and piled atop a flatbed truck.
Authorities attribute the bloodshed to an ongoing conflict between rival tribes, namely the Sikin, Ambulin, and Kaekin groups.
Kejadian perang suku di provinsi enga dataran tinggi papua new guinea / nugini, 64 meninggal menjadi korban. Mungkin ini menjadi gambaran ketika papua barat merdekahttps://t.co/fJmwwsDc1u https://t.co/gwOPzHtlip pic.twitter.com/45fDkoMgl0
— 𝕏𝕏 (@miftakussurur99) February 19, 2024
A wide range of firearms, including high-powered rifles and homemade weapons were used. It is believed that the distribution of wealth and land is the reason for escalating tribal conflict. Earlier in a similar incident, a three-month lockdown in Enga in July, where police imposed curfew and travel restrictions.
At least 53 men massacred in Papua New Guinea tribal violence, police tell Australian media https://t.co/MRFRO7yEKQ pic.twitter.com/Oa7DCBmvQa
— AZERTAC News Agency (@AZERTAC) February 19, 2024
Despite efforts by Papua New Guinea's government to end the violence through various means, including military deployment and mediation, the authorities failed to solve the matter. The remote and rugged terrain of the highlands, coupled with deep-rooted tribal rivalries and a proliferation of firearms, has rendered the security services overwhelmed and ill-equipped to contain the bloodshed.
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