Hela people surrender guns through God’s conviction

Decades-long tribal conflicts are finally yielding to an unprecedented wave of voluntary disarmament in Hela Province.

Through a powerful combination of spiritual conviction, relentless grassroots advocacy, and targeted local governance, long-standing enemy clans and warring tribes are stepping forward to surrender their illegal firearms, says Hela Governor Philip Undialu.

He said the initiative marks a critical turning point for Hela Province, long burdened by violence, offering its communities a rare and promising path toward lasting peace and socio-economic recovery.

At the heart of this peace movement is a deep, internal awakening driven by faith and community resilience.

Governor Undialu emphasized that the men choosing to lay down their weapons are doing so not out of external coercion, but through genuine divine conviction.

"After years of continuous bloodshed, former tribal enemies recognized that persistent tribal warfare served only to destroy their families, ruin livelihoods, and rob them of basic freedom. The possession of illegal firearms is like being in slavery — with no freedom, only fear," he said.

Governor Undialu stressed that local church organizations, spearheaded by mothers and women's groups, maintained constant prayer vigils, pleading for an end to the violence. He credited these relentless prayers with touching the hearts of gunmen and paving the way for reconciliation.

"By voluntarily stepping away from armed conflict, former warring tribes are now securing an opportunity to reintegrate into society, live without constant fear of retaliation, and rebuild their communities," he said.

The successful implementation of the Gun Surrender Program reflects an intensive, coordinated effort across multiple tiers of provincial leadership and security forces.

As Chairman of the program, Governor Undialu, alongside Koroba-Lake Kopiago MP and Minister for Immigration and Border Security William Bando, Provincial Administrator Ronny Angu, Election Manager John Tipa, Provincial Police Commander Inspector Arau Mairi, LLG Presidents, and members of the police and defence forces, worked around the clock to ensure the program's success.

Governor Undialu said communities made their work easier by identifying every man involved in tribal fights and known to be in possession of illegal guns — a clear sign of true community ownership of the peace process.