Papua New Guinea's Police Commissioner says politicians are splitting the force for their own ends, after policemen were attacked by colleagues in Port Moresby.
Commander Tom Kulunga made the comments on Tuesday after spending most of the day in crisis talks with officers in Port Moresby.
The day before six members of the Central Highway patrol were reportedly attacked by as many as 70 other police officers in a seemingly politically motivated attack.
"Let me voice my deepest concerns about the direct involvement of politicians in dividing the (Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary) RPNGC for their own ends," Mr Kulunga said, without naming names.
"It is no secret that certain politicians are providing funding and hire vehicles for certain elements of the RPNGC who are operating outside of my command and control."
The attacking officers were allegedly members of four police divisions flown from Mount Hagen to Port Moresby during the recent failed coup attempt in January.
"They were screaming `which government are you serving,'" officer Murray Nai'o told The Post Courier newspaper.
He said they were brought from Gordon to nearby Boroko police station, stripped and made to lie on the floor, before being accused of being part of a formally rogue unit that supported Sir Michael Somare when he tried to return to office late last year.
The attack has also been condemned by the PNG Trade Union Congress (PNGTUC).
"We condemn the violence perpetrated on Port Moresby policemen by the Hagan based policemen. It is completely unacceptable, inexcusable and intolerable," PNGTUC general secretary John Paska said.
"It appears their actions are being dictated by political directives from the Peter O'Neill government."
He also called on the Hagen-based police to be disarmed.
The incident follows a near-miss outside parliament house last week when tempers flared between police officers and soldiers reportedly dressed as civilians.
Angered by calls of "who are you guarding" by the soldiers, a policeman drew his gun, sparking a brief standoff between the men before superiors intervened.
The latest police incident is just one facet of PNG's almost liquid political landscape.
On Tuesday the government introduced two amendments to its controversial Judicial Conduct bill which will send a judge, who ignores a parliamentary suspension order, to jail for seven years, stripping them of their retirement entitlements.
A judge who sits on the bench with a suspended colleague will suffer the same fate, according to the bill.
There are currently two Supreme Court judges in PNG who fit that criteria - Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia and Justice Nicholas Kerriwom.
Parliament ordered their suspension two weeks ago.
But AAP has been told by political and police sources that Sir Salamo is being protected by rogue police officers and former servicemen who have surrounded his home.
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