PNGBLOGS

by MICHAEL J PASSINGAN SECURITY DETAIL The Security of the Prime Minister of any country should be concern for the citizens of that country and PNG should not be an exception. Prime Ministers do have a security detail. To my knowledge, prior to August 2011, all the Prime Ministers that PNG had had their security detail. At the most, there would be 5 members of the National Security Unit (NSU) of the Police who would provide security to the Prime Minister. At other times (usually), around two or three officers who would be accompanying the Prime Minister. Since the issuance of the arrest warrant against Peter O’Neill, his personal security detail had been boosted to five (5) unmarked Toyota land cruisers on average for the last two years. I am reliably told by one of those persons that this around-the-clock protection to Prime Minister O’Neill is offered, not only by the members of the NSU, but other police officers and PNG Defence members. For the last four seeks since the d

OP/ED A meeting of senior police officers is underway in Mt Hagen to discuss the security aspect of the 2012 national elections. One of the topics that came up, again and again in that meeting, is the prevalence of firearms and the threat they pose on the elections. To show the police bosses the seriousness of the matter, Mt Hagen Police showed the police chiefs two M16 rifles, five other factory-made guns, and eight military issued grenades confiscated from raids into villages around this highlands city. The demonstration was to send a clear message to the top brass of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary that the accumulation of illegal firearms in the Highlands is a real threat to the coming national elections. Guns have left thousands traumatised and have the seriously grave potential to bring Papua New Guinea down to its knees. Statistics compiled by the police force, show that there is overwhelming evidence that the majority of serious crimes like robbery, break and enter and

OP/ED A meeting of senior police officers is underway in Mt Hagen to discuss the security aspect of the 2012 national elections. One of the topics that came up, again and again in that meeting, is the prevalence of firearms and the threat they pose on the elections. To show the police bosses the seriousness of the matter, Mt Hagen Police showed the police chiefs two M16 rifles, five other factory-made guns, and eight military issued grenades confiscated from raids into villages around this highlands city. The demonstration was to send a clear message to the top brass of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary that the accumulation of illegal firearms in the Highlands is a real threat to the coming national elections. Guns have left thousands traumatised and have the seriously grave potential to bring Papua New Guinea down to its knees. Statistics compiled by the police force, show that there is overwhelming evidence that the majority of serious crimes like robbery, break and enter

MORAUTA Haus, which houses the office of the prime minister, was under siege yesterday as ex-servicemen and their families converge on the government office, demanding that they be paid their outstanding entitlements. The National reports , Although the protest was peaceful, the amount of tension and frustration made it potentially explosive, especially as this was timed to coincide with an NGO-organised anti-government rally which police had called off early this week. But, there were reports of violence and looting in other towns, including Goroka. Disgruntled former members of the PNG Defence Force and their families barricaded the building, preventing workers from the offices of the prime minister and NEC and the Department of Personnel Management from leaving. Police had to be called in to enforce order before the Minister for Public Service and Finance and Treasury, Peter O’Neill, met the ex-servicemen and promised more talks with them next Tuesday at Murray Barracks. O’Neill was

MORAUTA Haus, which houses the office of the prime minister, was under siege yesterday as ex-servicemen and their families converge on the government office, demanding that they be paid their outstanding entitlements. The National reports , Although the protest was peaceful, the amount of tension and frustration made it potentially explosive, especially as this was timed to coincide with an NGO-organised anti-government rally which police had called off early this week. But, there were reports of violence and looting in other towns, including Goroka. Disgruntled former members of the PNG Defence Force and their families barricaded the building, preventing workers from the offices of the prime minister and NEC and the Department of Personnel Management from leaving. Police had to be called in to enforce order before the Minister for Public Service and Finance and Treasury, Peter O’Neill, met the ex-servicemen and promised more talks with them next Tuesday at Murray Barracks. O’Neill