Last year Friday, February 18, 2011 A
meeting of senior police officers in Mt Hagen was held 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 stealing and murder involved guns.
In almost all instances of
crime, guns, whether home-made or factory-made, were reportedly used,
according to former Internal Security Minister Sani Rambi who informed
Parliament in July last year during a debate on the gun problem in the
country. Police and local leaders in the Highlands – one of four
regions in PNG - known for tribal fighting, say the high proliferation
and use of firearms in rural communities has the potential to turn the
country upside down. Every household now owns a gun illegally. The
members of the household contribute money and buy the weapon. Some of
the most modern weapons fetch up to K3000. It is a lucrative business.
Apart from guns, there are hand
grenades and other explosive devices that are in the hands of the
villagers. The media reported early last year that in a tribal fighting
in Southern Highlands, a hand grenade was thrown at the enemy positions
which blew up five people. The same reports also told of how the
police, moving in to stop an ethnic clash in the remote Sembrigi area
in that province, had to give up after they were confronted by warriors
armed with weapons much superior to their’s.
PNG can talk about development,
the multibillion kina liquefied natural gas project and other resource
projects, but without law and order, PNG might as well forget
everything. That is agreed by businesses as well as senior government
ministers.
“The proliferation of
illegal guns within our communities is making it very difficult to have
law and order,” Mr Rambi had told Parliament last year.
The Government of Prime
Minister Sir Michael Somare moved in 2005 to deal with the gun issue in
a big way. It established the PNG Guns Control Committee, headed by a
former PNG Defence Force Commander Brigadier General Jerry Singirok.
The
Committee travelled the length and breadth of the country, held
consultative meetings with all stakeholders and seven months later,
produced a thick report, which contained 244 recommendations to address
the guns issue. The report covered leadership and democracy, governance
and service delivery, legislation, rules and operations, borders and
trade, social and community development, reduction of weapons for safer
communities and public awareness.
Seven years later, the
government is yet to act on the recommendations, although there have
been calls from the Opposition as well as concerned citizens in the
country for the report to be implemented.
Today
the situation has developed to a level where the use of guns is
associated with the deteriorating law and order problem in PNG. And the
State is unable to to exercise its authority and control because of
various reasons.
Everyone agrees that illegal
guns are today instruments of violence and death and its proliferation
is getting out of control. And the situation has gone from being a
major problem in urban areas to a much bigger problem in the rural
areas.
All eyes are on the
meeting in Mt Hagen. For Acting Police Commissioner Tony Wagambie and
his men, they have an uphill battle on their hands. Whatever plan the
police come up with, it will require the support of everyone to
eradicate the gun culture in PNG .
Lets bring back this Issue to light !
Mangi Tari
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