[Anthropgrad] SSGM Seminar by Alan Rumsey on March 5

[Alan Rumsey]

Seminar:

War and Peace in the New Guinea Highlands; some recent developments in 
the Nebilyer Valley, Western Highlands

Dr Alan Rumsey, Department of Anthropology, RSPAS

 Abstract: After not being involved in any tribal fighting since 1981, 
or in any deadly bouts of it since the 1950s, groups from the 'Hapwara' 
area of the Western Nebilyer Valley found themselves at the centre of a 
fight in which approximately 80 people were killed during 2005-7. In 
January 2009 Dr Rumsey visited the area for the first time since the 
fight began. At the invitation of the Archbishop of Mount Hagen, Douglas 
Young, he participated in a workshop on tribal fighting in which leaders 
from both sides met up for the first time since the fight began and 
agreed to begin working on a formal peace agreement including a 'Form 
Four' Preventive Order in which they invite police intervention should 
the fighting begin again. Dr Rumsey will give an account of these events 
and try to develop some conclusions from them about the reasons for the 
fight, and about problems and prospects for conflict resolution within 
the region.

 Venue: Seminar Room B, Coombs Building (9)

Date: Thursday, 5 March 2009

Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Enquiries: Jon Fraenkel on 6125 3300, Helen Marshall on 61257570