In support of the protest, local leaders and activists banded together on behalf of Paiam and the entire Porgera community, calling for the immediate declaration of SOE as the first step toward resolving the ongoing violence in the host locality of the Porgera mine.
Paiam Village Court Magistrate, Was Liko said the ten clans of Paiam do not engage in tribal conflict because they had signed a pact with God.
However, a spill over of a fight that started at Kairik part of the valley has done more damaged in the Paiam community and called on government to declare SOE before the current situation escalates to further destruction around the valley affecting the restart of the mine.
“The 10 clans of Paiam do not engage in tribal conflicts as this area was dedicated to God. My area is completely destroyed now.
The state properties and the township are damaged. Community members are displaced.
This conflict is affecting the entire Porgera valley and the neighbouring regions.
Population decreased and the people who are here are scared to go into gardens because there are gunmen ravaging gardening areas in the bush.
“I appeal to the Prime Minister and the Provincial Governor to declare a SOE immediately. This mine is on the verge of restart but how will the reopening of the mine proceed if this continue? Declare state of emergency first and law and order issues will follow”, Mr Liko said.
Also sharing similar sentiment, one of the prominent local leaders of Porgera and Paiam town councillor, Kensary Lawaipa said innocent lives have been buried, and properties and government facilities within Paiam mining township have been destroyed and this will continue unless the security force on the ground is boosted.
“The clans of Paiam are the custodians of Paiam mining township. There is a high school, an international school, hospital, village 1, 2 and 3, bank, police station; these are the facilities of Papua New Guinea being taken care of by the 10 clans of Paiam. But a severe destruction has occurred already within the surrounding community of the Paiam town. Homes and business properties have been destroyed.
“Man, women, youth, and children, are killed everywhere. The number of people killed in a day is seven (7), and 13. These are not animals. These are human beings.
“This is Papua New Guinea’s mine. This is the revenue generator of the country. Where is Marape Government? Where is Governor Sir Peter Ipatas?” Mr Lawaipa said.
On behalf of the Porgera mine landowners, Lease for Mining Purposes (LMP) Chairman, Timothy Andambo said a joint effort by all stakeholders of the mine, including the landowners, is required to address this ongoing violence in the local communities.
“The current situation has to be controlled, and we need collaborative and corporative efforts from everyone including landowners, government at the national and provincial levels. And we need serious actions done now and immediately.
“From the landowners’ perspective, we are actually working with an emergency committee which has been established by some volunteers, that comprises of the police, the military, the church groups, some youth groups, and some village leaders, so we’re working with those groups to actually to come up with short term and long term action plans. Before anything happens, what we’re asking for is ‘cease fire’ and to get ‘cease fire’ done we need military and SOE declaration immediately”, Mr Andambo said.
A joint security forum was held a few days earlier before the protest, security forces including Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) and the police said security effort is exhausted and want the local leaders including the people to take responsibility of the ongoing violence in the valley.
The ongoing tribal war between Nomali and Aiyala clans began over payments of a Digicel tower at Kairik.
This conflict emerged when the first wave of fight destroyed lives and properties around Kairik, Palipaka and some parts of Paiam in March, then re-emerged in May, causing terror and more destruction to the remaining properties within the vicinity of the Paiam township, killing more than 17 people, including the recent killing at Paiam, and others outside the based-conflict zone. 
