Election Violence Is Tearing Communities Apart: Papua New Guinea Must Choose Peace
STATEMENT BY REV. DR. JACK URAME, Head Bishop of ELCPNG
26th November 2025 | Ampo, LAE
Respect human life and stop violence
The increase in the level of violence happening in our country is deeply alarming. The recent election-related violence in Western Highlands, where five innocent lives were lost, is truly heartbreaking and unacceptable. It is painful to face the reality of such human aggression which claimed the lives of three young people, two female Unitech students and a secondary school student. This is cruelty in its highest form, and it has no place in a society that seeks peace and dignity. For these two young women to suffer and die at the hands of men reveals the deeply rooted struggle of gender injustice that continues to burden our communities.
I strongly condemn this inhuman and barbaric act and call on state authorities to address this matter with seriousness. This must be done not only for justice and peace but also to prevent such violence in the future and to help remove this destructive behavior from our society. We must not tolerate or accept it as part of our culture. It is beyond comprehension to imagine the way these young lives were taken. It is merciless and shows grave disrespect for their value, their dignity, and the long future that awaited them. Their dreams, hopes, and aspirations for themselves and for our country were destroyed within minutes. This is a painful tragedy that weighs heavily on our hearts. I pray that God’s strength, comfort, and courage surround their families in this time of great sorrow.
I remind our nation that students are our greatest asset and our future. They deserve respect, protection, love, and care wherever they may be, whether in school, at home, or in the wider community.
This election-related violence calls on the government to seriously reconsider the current system of government and election processes. Violence during LLG elections has happened in many other parts of the country. If this is how our people continue to behave during LLG elections, then I urge the government to make critical decisions on the LLG election system we are using now or perhaps abolish the third-level government. The LLG structure is under-resourced, underfunded, and has little effective function in the districts. LLG elections are costly, and instead of bringing positive outcomes, they have contributed to social disorder, including violence, loss of lives, destruction of property, and the breaking apart of families and communities.
I appeal to all our people, not only in Western Highlands but across the whole country, to stop ethnic conflict, tribal fighting, and all forms of violence. These actions destroy peace, disrupt harmony, hinder development, break families apart, and create fear among communities. Let us stop the violence. Let us love and respect one another. And let us work together with a shared vision for a peaceful Papua New Guinea.
Rev. Dr. Jack Urame, Head Bishop, ELCPNG
