00:00 Right throughout this region are the remnants of homes like this one that have been burnt
00:06 to the ground during this latest bout of tribal fighting.
00:10 It's extending across quite a large area here along a stretch of highway where many tribes
00:15 have gotten involved.
00:20 Tribal fighting has been rife in Enga since the national election last year, but it's
00:23 flared up in recent months.
00:26 The violence here has been a series of escalating retribution attacks between two tribes and
00:31 their allies in the area.
00:33 Police say more than 60 people have been killed so far.
00:37 What makes tribal fights now so different to the past is the use of high-powered guns
00:42 that are making their way into villages, as well as young men who are willing to act as
00:45 mercenaries to make money.
00:47 Police believe more than two dozen men acting as hired guns have died in this bout of tribal
00:52 fighting so far.
00:53 There used to be a lot of houses, very permanent houses, semi-permanent houses.
01:00 Now we don't see them any longer.
01:03 These villages being burnt down means thousands of people have been displaced from their homes.
01:09 Our village was destroyed by fire, no homes are left, gardens destroyed, and we are suffering.
01:16 Nothing to wear, no blankets to keep warm, nothing at all.
01:20 Police are targeting the source of guns and ammunition being smuggled into the region,
01:25 alleging businessmen and leaders from some of the tribes are funding the fighting.
01:30 Police are also working to send more officers up to Enger Province, including a new tactical
01:36 force.
01:37 The province's governor has renewed his calls for the national government to ask Australian
01:43 police to help with the efforts on the ground.
01:46 [BLANK_AUDIO]
Comments