26/09/2026
INA PEACE BUILDING WORKSHOP, MT HAGEN
The INA hosted a successful two day workshop this week (22-23 September) on peace building and conflict prevention and resolution in Mt Hagen. Although a particular focus was on the upper Highlands provinces, where extensive and extended armed tribal fighting has been occurring, it also was addressing group violence that is becoming prevalent also in other provinces of PNG from Morobe to Milne Bay, E Sepik to the New Guinea Islands.
Conflict in PNG, and the factors driving it, have different characteristics in different parts of PNG, as one would expect with the country's different social, cultural, geographic and economic conditions and traditions. Certain features are prevalent in many of the conflicts, however, throughout the country, particularly as society responds to the shifting economic and social pressures, including from population growth and rapid urbanisation,, and especially their impact on the younger generation, who are seeking stimulus and opportunities.
The workshop brought together leaders from affected communities, CSO and church leaders from across the region and other parts of the country, such as Morobe, as well as some officials with relevant experience from certain national and provincial government agencies. The aim was to hear the experiences and stories of conflict and conflict prevention and resolution from men and women, including youth, with practical experience, who understand the causes, and know of measures to prevent and address conflicts, not just interventions, but also dealing with the root causes.
The objective was not to be approaching it from top down, or simply through responsive and effective policing, although they play a crucial part, but by diagnosing the underlying issues and triggers, including local traditions (e.g. around a persistent payback mentality), or alcohol and drug abuse, resource benefit/ compensation discontent, election related, and the role of power brokers or so-called 'warlords', which may encourage persistent conflict, and identifying effective means to enable conditions for sustained peace.
A major focus was on sharing, not only the challenges, but learning lessons from each other of constructive and community grounded approaches to peace building.
A major current issue lies with the severe lack of awareness and clarity over responsibilties between respective government agencies dealing not only with law and justice issues, but also service and infrastructure provision, and a lack of financial and staff resources provided to those agencies, such as LLGs, ward councillors, village courts and community police, to play their critical roles, complementing provincial and national authorities and CSOs and CBOs.
The workshop brought together an inspiring group of attendees, each with a passion and constructive expereince for improving life in their home communities, districts, provinces and the country, working with young people, intervening in conflicts and supporting victims. Many have shown great determination and courage in their work, which is largely unpaid and seemingly unrewarded, except through its impact for people's lives.
The final panel discussion brought together many observations and practical recommendations, for improved coordination, information sharing, legal changes and application, youth education and opportunities and breaking the cycle of violence of young people who've been marginalised, as well as calls for similar district level workshops to raise local awareness and engagement and develop practical local measures... There were a range of institutional measures proposed to help coordinate and support local efforts, including through DPLGA, educational and training institutions (DWU, SILAG, and Institute for Peace etc, for example to support skills development for mediation), but the details and options need to be thrashed out and consensus established.
Many of the participants were astonished at the efforts towards peace that are ongoing, but also those that have been successful over many years, for example in formerly conflict-riven but now largely peaceful Simbu province, driven by women (eg the Kup Women for Peace - led by 3 women from conflicting clans), but then endorsed by male leaders as well. They were astonished at the women's initiatives in Enga, as well as youth engagement in efforts in Hela and Enga. They were surprised at the role and number of interventions by churches, such as the Melpa Lutheran church, for example in WHP and into neighbouring provinces, and at the growing level of partly resource-related conflicts also erupting and dragging on in Morobe, but the well-structured efforts by CSOs working with authorities and communities to tackle them.
The workshop was just a step, but a valuable step to be followed up through a range of actions and partnerships... it provided ideas and hope that change can be achieved, and with such commitment and developing knowledge, home based solutions are being tried and tested, and that problematic social attitudes are not so rigid, but can be adapted.
It was sad, however, hear, at the end of the second day, of the resumption of violence in Laiagam/Sirunki in Enga, with some deaths and extensive destruction to properties and public facilities. An observation to some participants by the PPC, Harris, was that good policing is all about nipping problems in the bud early, before they erupt or fester, and that he'd been away and that police had failed to keep adequate tabs of this ongoing tension.
The INA gratefully acknowledges the contribution of MRDC, KMH, New Porgera Ltd and DNPM to being able to host this event, and to the support and participation of the Dept of PM & NEC, DPLGA, Police and respective provincial authorities, including the Dty Administrator of WHP who provided the welcoming address, participating churches, NGOs, CSOs and citizens, and especially to the principal researcher and facilitator, Yauka Liria, for his focus and commitment to puruing this national development challenge, and to the INA/CIMC staff who provided critical back up
