By Post-Courier

Copyright postcourier

Enga’s founding father Sir Pato Kakaraya yesterday urged for urgent intervention to stop the bloody ethnic violence in Wapenamanda District.

“I weep at what I see. This is not the future I dreamt for our people. My dream was for Wapenamanda and Enga to be leaders in education, agriculture, and business, national and global affairs — not in tribal fighting,” an emotional Sir Pato lamented.

Now in his 90s, Sir Pato was MP for Wapenamanda and state minister between 1970 and 1987.

In a statement yesterday, he pleaded for current MP for Wapenamanda and Transport Minister, Miki Kaeok to intervene in the ongoing ethnic clash between the Yangakun and Yakuman tribes.

The fighting has dragged on for over a month, causing the loss of lives, destruction of homes, and disruption of schools, health services, and community life.

“As a founding father of Enga and Wapenamanda, I am appalled that we have returned to cycles of violence and tribal warfare instead of progressing in peace and prosperity when we have just made the cross-over in celebrating the 50 years of independence on 16th September, 2025,” Sir Pato said.

“No tribal group wins in war. Everyone loses. Our children lose their education, our families lose their homes, our people lose their livelihoods, and our district loses its future.

“I make this solemn appeal to my son, Hon Miki Kaeok to rise above tribal alliances and act decisively to stop the nonsensical tribal war immediately.

“As a Yangakun man and a son of Yakuman, you must show leadership for both tribes and for the entire district and province.

“It is your duty as the elected Member of Parliament to immediately bring this conflict to an end”.

Sir Pato urged the Enga Provincial Government and national authorities to also intervene without delay to restore law and order.

He said those individuals responsible for instigating and committing the killings on either side must be handed to the police and held accountable under the full force of the law.

Sir Pato said community leaders, churches, and community groups must work urgently towards peace-making and settlement so that life can return to normal.

“During my service as MP for Wapenamanda from 1972 to 1987, I personally intervened to stop tribal fights before police and authorities arrived,” Sir Pato said.

“This included my own Aluin and Kep Clans of the Miok Tribe who were embroiled in a tribal fight when I landed in the chopper with Sir Julius Chan as Prime Minister in 1983 to stop the fight.

“I believed and still believe that our energy must be directed into economic development, education, and prosperity, not destruction and tribal fight.

“That is why I established schools, health services, coffee projects, piggery ventures, and countless business groups in Wapenamanda in the formative year.

“I also fought to establish Enga Province in 1977, and I worked with my great friend Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and the Pangu Pati to bring self-government in 1973 and independence in 1975, so that Engans and all Papua New Guineans could build a better life,” he said.

“Let us not destroy what we built over 50 years. Let us rise from this horrible state of mayhem to reset the path to unity, prosperity, and peace” Sir Pato said.