Compensation deal ends stand-off in PNG’s second city, Lae
Four days of tension between tribal groups in the Papua New Guinea city of Lae, have eased, after a commitment to pay
compensation.
Fighting erupted after a Enga province man was killed when he failed to pay a bus fare.
Western Highlanders, who own most of the public transport services in Lae, then removed their buses from the roads
stopping many hundreds from getting to work in the city.
But the chief reporter in the Lae office of the Post Courier newspaper, Abby Yadi, says activity is back to normal after
both groups met yesterday.
“Their leaders brought to an area, a central area, with police supervision. And they negotiated and talked and settled
the dispute with promises of compensation to paid by one of the sides.”
Mr Yadi says the size of the compensation is not yet set but it will involve a cash payment and pigs.