By 
02-08-2024
Nuno Daun
Southeast Asia & Pacific Team
Global Human Rights Defense
Widespread attacks across multiple villages in Papua New Guinea
Last week, three villages in the East Sepik province – Tamara, Tambari and Agrumara – were attacked by a gang of over 30 young men calling themselves “I don’t care”, according to the police. At least 26 people were killed, including 16 children.
Last Wednesday, the gang armed with guns, machetes and wire catapults attacked Agrumara, killing two people and burning down houses. The following day, the same gang attacked Tambari, raped young girls and women before slashing them with machetes. So far, 26 have been confirmed dead, however the death toll might be over 50 as the search for survivors continues. Some of the remains of the victims were taken by crocodiles, making it difficult to determine the accurate death toll.
Many of the survivors fled into the surrounding wilderness, without any time to grab any belongings. One of the women who managed to escape was floating in the river for hours as she detailed horrors that she witnessed. Since the area where these attacks occurred are fairly remote, the police were unable to get there until a few days after the events had transcribed. To date, the police are still investigating the motivation behind the attacks.
Since the elections in 2022, gang-related violence in the country has risen and escalated, mostly over land disputes and clan rivalries.
To date, five suspects have been arrested. However, the authorities stated that the ring leaders are still at large.
Sources and further readings:
Drury, F(25 July, 2024) ‘Gang kills women and children in Papua New Guinea massacre – reports’ BBC News. Accessed 02/08/2024 <https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwdp58z3gjo>.
Kuku, R (24 July, 2024) ‘At least 26 killed in Papua New Guinea village attacks, including 16 children’ The Guardian. Accessed 02/08/2024 <https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/24/at-least-26-killed-in-papua-new-guinea-village-attacks-including-16-children>.
Tinetali-Fiavaai, G (30 July, 2024) ‘Five arrested in connection with deadly Papua New Guinea massacre’ RNZ. Accessed 02/08/2024 <https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/523563/five-arrested-in-connection-with-deadly-papua-new-guinea-massacre>.
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