The Government has announced 300 soldiers and policemen will be sent to Enga province to stop the tribal violence and illegal mining around the Porgera gold mine.

Eleven people have died in recent years. The most recent victim was a reserve policeman.

But Enga's governor Peter Ipatas says the response is heavy handed and what is really needed is a permanent police presence.

The provincial police commander Superintendent Michael Charey agrees.

"As soon as the police withdraw, after one or two weeks everything goes back to square one," he said.

Local landowners say the mine's operator Barrick should relocate villages away from the mine site to stop illegal mining.