Violence erupting among illegal miners in Papua New Guinea has resulted in the deaths of between 20 and 50 individuals, as reported by a United Nations official on Monday. The clashes began recently and are ongoing in the Porgera Valley, situated close to an area where a landslide in May caused an estimated 2,000 fatalities. Mate Bagossy, the U.N.’s humanitarian adviser for Papua New Guinea, indicated that the death toll, which had reached at least 20 by Sunday, could potentially reach 50 based on information gathered from community sources and local authorities in Enga province.
Bagossy mentioned that security forces have started to intervene in an attempt to quell the violence, with the army and police being deployed. The exact number of individuals injured in the conflict was not provided. The situation prompted National Police Commissioner David Manning to declare a state of emergency on Saturday as tensions escalated due to the activities of illegal miners and settlers victimizing landowners and resorting to violence to intimidate local communities.
The violence has had repercussions on the nearby New Porgera gold mine, leading to the suspension of most of its operations until at least Thursday due to the impact on employees and their families. The General Manager of the mine, James McTiernan, expressed deep sorrow over the events and hoped for a swift restoration of peace in the valley. Enga Governor Peter Ipatas characterized the violence in the valley as unparalleled, emphasizing the urgent need for a resolution to the crisis.
A disaster management team involving the national government and the U.N. Development Program is set to convene in the capital, Port Moresby, on Tuesday to coordinate a humanitarian response in the challenging and secluded environment. Beyond the recent violence, tribal conflicts have been a mounting security concern in Papua New Guinea, particularly in Enga where recovery efforts following the May landslide have been slow.
In a separate development on Monday, Papua New Guinea marked 49 years of independence from neighboring Australia.