No information on the treatment of the Mundjika tribe by the Yalibu tribe could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Without specifying the names of the tribes, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003 stated that tribal violence in the highland regions of Papua New Guinea continued during 2003 due to long-standing tensions between groups and a lack of police enforcement (25 Feb. 2004, Sec. 5). The report also mentions that the use of modern weapons among tribespeople has resulted in a higher death toll (Country Reports 25 Feb. 2004, Sec. 5).

Three weeks of tribal fighting in Enga Province ended in 15 deaths and many injured after the Lipin clan reportedly attacked the Sundaks in December 2003 (The National 13 Jan. 2004; ibid. 8 Jan. 2004). In July 2003, 17 people were killed in the Upper Lai region of Enga Province when "the Magin tribe [allegedly refused] to pay the Irel clan five pigs as compensation" (Radio New Zealand International 12 July 2003). However, the same article states that The National newspaper reported that the people died because of their involvement in a new sect that encouraged forced sex with local girls (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003. 25 February 2004. "Papua New Guinea." http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27785.htm [Accessed 12 Mar. 2004]

The National [Port Moresby]. 13 January 2004. "Tribal Fighting Stops in Papua New Guinea's Enga Province." (Dialog)

_____. 8 January 2004. "Death Toll in Papua New Guinea Tribal Fighting Hits 15." (Dialog)

Radio New Zealand International. 21 July 2003. "Seventeen Said Dead in Papua New Guinea Tribal Clash." (Dialog)

Unsuccessful attempt to obtain information from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Papua New Guinea.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International, Asian Human Rights Commission, Center for World Indigenous Studies, CIA World Factbook, Country Reports, Dialog, Ecoi.net, Embassy of Papua New Guinea to the Americas, Human Rights Watch, Papua New Guinea Virtual Library, Tribal World, UNDP in Papua New Guinea, United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, World News Connection.