Air thick with tension and smouldering homes, Badili’s Lower Talai area in Port Moresby faces a humanitarian crisis after a violent eviction sparked unrest, with Goilalas and Morobeans reportedly clashing with police. Social media videos allege fatalities, although official confirmation from police is pending. Witnesses, including a teacher from St. Therese Badili Primary School, reported to PNG HAUSBUNG hearing gunfire, causing her and colleagues to seek refuge nearby. Moresby South MP and Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko expressed sorrow, disgust and anger over the chaos that’s displaced over 1,000 residents, decrying it as “a humanitarian disaster.” Tkatchenko attributed the tragedy to one woman’s “greedy, greedy actions,” asserting that innocent lives were jeopardized for profit. He detailed his frustration, saying, “Innocent Vanima people from Goilala and Eastern Highlanders are being attacked and provoked... because of one person’s greed of getting state land, through a process that now affects thousands of genuine, good Papua New Guinea citizens.” Tkatchenko further described the intense situation around 2pm, stating, “There are currently about eight to ten police vehicles, fully armed, pointing their guns at these innocent people, ransacking their houses... bulldozers now going in, demolishing and burning down their dwellings.” He condemned the actions of police, voicing dismay over the rapid escalation. The land in question, previously earmarked for a structured settlement-to-suburb initiative by the National Capital District Commission (NCDC), has reportedly been claimed through legal process. “Now, three or four generations of Papua New Guineans have been living on that land, and with NCDC and the Governor (Powes Parkop), we have been trying to acquire that land, so we can properly turn it into a settlement to suburb program, as we speak.” “NCDC, through their urban development program, and physical planning and all the rest, have already been working on this, in the upper and lower Talai area. This is not new.” “How this woman, Papua New Guinean, acquired this huge piece of land, just makes me, I can't believe it.” “As former lands minister, there is something definitely wrong!” “Something definitely wrong, because all these lands were rejected from anybody trying to steal this land.” Tkatchenko explained that although a court granted the woman legal rights to the property, he questioned if due consideration had been given to the residents. “Did they contemplate or think of the dozens of people living on that land?” he asked. “This is not the first time; you will see this sort because of corrupt, illegal practices of people stealing land!” Tkatchenko noted that crucial documents detailing the land acquisition are mysteriously missing. “When we went to get the lands file to find out how this land was acquired, the whole file is gone, permanently missing!” he said, describing the loss as “very, very convenient.” He argued that without these records, it’s difficult to challenge the eviction legally, despite suspicions of an illicit land acquisition. “And the situation is that people must answer for this because, as a member for Moresby South, how am I going to resettle over 1,000 displaced people?” “It's a disaster!” Tkatchenko called on government agencies, including NCDC, the Minister for Lands, and the Lands Department Secretary, to investigate and rectify the situation. “I’ll be working with Minister John Rosso and the Secretary for Lands to ensure we get to the bottom of this.” The unfolding crisis has pushed Tkatchenko and other leaders into discussions, seeking solutions to prevent future tragedies like this from occurring. Tkatchenko stressed his support for the displaced families, committing to seek assistance from relevant authorities. He hopes that by collaborating with the Lands Department and NCDC, a clearer, more compassionate approach to land settlement can emerge in the face of such crises.