MENDI-MUNIHU MP, Hon Raphael Tonpi is calling on two warring tribes in the Upper
Mendi local level government area to stop fighting by laying down their arms andresort to peace.
The local Member made the call after a fight broke out over the weekend between
the Tukunjup and Pereka tribes of Upper Mendi over a disputed rugby league match
between the youths from the area.
This escalates into a tribal fighting involving firearms with destruction to properties.
The Upper Mendi Council Chamber was set ablaze including properties and
casualties reported from both sides. The tribal conflicts now into its second day with
multiple causalities and injuries sustained from both sides.
Mr Tonpi stated “It saddens me to learnt that fight has erupted in one of our peaceful
area of our electorate. Upper Mendi best known for handling issues without resorting
into fight but to learnt that there has been intensive gun battle happening in the last
two days is not good news.
“Many innocent people have lost permanent houses, and many have been wounded,
and two casualties is just too much for a community who have been living
peacefully.”
He said “as your local MP, I’d like to ask the Tunguzup and Pereka tribe to lay your
arms down and pause for a while. You are fighting over a rugby league game is not
good enough.”
“Many innocent families have fled for their lives. Remember your mothers and
sisters, remember your old people. They can’t be forced out of their land. I call for
peace and normalcy to be prevailed,” Mr Tonpi reiterated.
“We are into the first week of school. We have our only Secondary School (Mogol)
there, just near the place you are fighting. Thousands of innocent kids from our
district will be affected. We have all our big Primary Schools like Kuma, Kundaka,
Karel and Mogol including our newly registered Kuma TVET and Ipipia Primary
Schools affected by this intensive fighting. Please have some thoughts and lay
down your arms and allow peace and normalcy to prevail,” he said.
Mr Tonpi further elaborate that you are fighting along the only highway road that
leads to Mendi, our people and business houses will be affected big time.
Mr Tonpi said the Police and Peace mediators will be send to the fighting zone area
and he urges the people to respect the law enforcement officers when they are on
the ground to quell and access the situation.
He also urges other surrounding communities and tribes or council wards not to take
sides and support. Stay away and don’t support this fight. Adhere to this call and
avoid the escalation of this problem.
“We pray for Gods intervention during this time of our hardship.”
