Enga Province
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Enga Province
Enga Provins ( Tok Pisin )Enga | |
---|---|
Government | |
• Governor | UTC+10 (AEST) |
HDI (2018) | 0.480[2] low · 20th of 22 |
Enga is one of the provinces in
History
Europeans—typically Australian gold prospectors—originally entered what is now Enga province from the east in the late 1920s, although the best-known exploration of Enga took place during the early 1930s when
Culture
Engans are divided into three subgroups, the Mae, the Raiapu, and the Kyaka.[5]
The Raiapu Enga believe in a variety of supernatural beings, although anthropologist Richard Feachem states that the Raiapu "derive no joy or comfort from their religious beliefs" due to the pervasively indifferent or malevolent nature of those spirits. The yalyakali, or "sky people," are fair-skinned and beautiful deities whose idyllic lives in the clouds mirror the agricultural and clan structure of the Raiapu below but lack the sadness of ordinary life. They are considered remote and unapproachable by humans. Feachem states that "the remaining spirit beings (ghosts and demons) are an aggressive and bellicose group who are mercilessly engaged in an endless cycle of revenge and mischief." The yuumi nenge, or "destructive ground force," are ghosts which cause deaths from exposure in the forest. A timongo is a spirit which leaves a human body upon death and wanders the forests as "a source of continual fear and alarm for the living," particularly the still-living members of their own immediate families, against whom they bear "bitter grievances." Also living in the wild forests, as well as caves and pools, are evil, carnivorous demons known as pututuli, which can change their shape but are often seen as being extremely tall with two-fingered claws. The Raiapu believe that human babies are occasionally switched by female demons with pututuli babies. Topoli are human sorcerers who possess secret knowledge of spells or other esoteric knowledge, and can defend against and communicate with hostile spirits. They "may be described as a healer of broken limbs, or a catcher of lost ghosts," writes Feachem.[7]
Crime and violence
Tribal violence in Enga has been a way of life, although traditional weaponry, rules of engagement, and peace treaties kept casualties low. This norm has begun to change in the region in the 21st century, with greater use of firearms, mercenaries, and ignoring rules of engagement leading to greater loss of life. Firearms are believed to have been stolen from government armouries. Only a fifth of the 5000 Australian-made
Fighting emerged after the 2022 Papua New Guinean general election, with thousands being displaced from their homes. This fighting then continued with different tribes ambushing others in a myriad of disputes, leading to villages being abandoned. Many inhabitants have been displaced to the capital of Wabag in order to escape the fighting.[9] In February 2024, 69 people were killed in a massacre in Akom, 30 minutes from the capital, the worst loss of life since the Bougainville conflict of the 1980s and 1990s. Prime Minister James Marape called it an act of domestic terrorism and stated that they would seek help from Australia to support policing and security in the region.[10]
Districts and LLGs
The province has six districts, and each district has one or more Local Level Government (LLG) areas. For census purposes, the LLG areas are subdivided into wards and those into census units.[11]
District | District Capital | LLG Name |
---|---|---|
Kandep District | Kandep | Kandep Rural |
Wage Rural | ||
Kompiam-Ambum District | Kompiam
|
Ambum Rural |
Kompiam Rural | ||
Wapi-Yengis Rural
| ||
Lagaip District | Laigiam | Lagaip Rural |
Maip Muritaka Rural | ||
Pilikambi Rural | ||
Porgera-Paela District | Porgera | Porgera Rural |
Paela Rural | ||
Hewa Rural | ||
Wapenamanda District | Wapenamanda
|
Wapenamanda Rural |
Tsak Rural | ||
Wabag District | Wabag | Maramuni Rural |
Wabag Rural | ||
Wabag Urban |
Provincial leaders
The province was governed by a decentralised provincial administration, headed by a Premier, from 1978 to 1995. Following reforms taking effect that year, the national government reassumed some powers, and the role of Premier was replaced by a position of Governor, to be held by the winner of the province-wide seat in the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.[12][13]
Premiers (1978–1995)
Premier | Term |
---|---|
Don Kapi | 1978–1980 |
Danley Tindiwi | 1980–1984 |
Provincial government suspended Graham Taylor - Provincial Administrator | 1984–1986 |
Ned Laina | 1986–1990 |
Danley Tindiwi | 1990–1993 |
provincial government suspended | 1993–1995 |
Regional Member/Governors (1995–present)
Governor | Term |
---|---|
Paul Paken Torato | 1977–1987 RM |
Jeffery Balakau | 89–96 RM/Governor |
Peter Ipatas | 1996–present Governor |
Members of the National Parliament
The province and each district is represented by a Member of the National Parliament. There is one provincial electorate and each district is an open electorate.
Electorate | Member |
---|---|
Enga Provincial | Peter Ipatas |
Kompiam-Ambum Open | John Pundari |
Lagaip Open | Aimos Akem Joseph |
Porgera-Paela Open | Maso Karipe (Deceased) |
Wabag Open | Dr. Lino Tom |
Wapenamanda Open | Miki Kaeok |
Kandep Open | Don Polye |
References
- ^ "Post-Courier Online". Archived from the original on 2013-06-28. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
- ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ^ "Enga – Department of Finance – Papua New Guinea". Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ Leahy, Michael. (1936). The Central Highlands of New Guinea. Royal Geographical Society: London. (pp. 229–262 in the Geographical Journal).
- ISBN 978-0-521-29249-8.
- ISBN 978-1-00-069819-0.
- JSTOR 40330087.
- ^ "The videos that should have raised an alarm in PNG that blood was about to be shed". ABC News. 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Violence is so bad in this PNG community that police sealed it off to outsiders. The ABC got to go inside". ABC News. 11 September 2023.
- ^ Kuku, Rebecca (20 February 2024). "Papua New Guinea massacre: Fears violence could spiral over tribal conflict". The Guardian.
- ^ National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea
- ^ May, R. J. "8. Decentralisation: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back". State and society in Papua New Guinea: the first twenty-five years. Australian National University. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ "Provinces". rulers.org. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
External links
- Enga Waipii - Naimanya Anda - Sponsored and supported by Forrest Data Systems a PNG owned technology firm.