PNGDF withdraws troops as Oro SoE winds down

By SHEILA LASIBORI
SEVEN members of the Defence Force contingent deployed to the flood-devastated areas of Oro province have left the province reportedly to attend courses.
Their departure has signalled the gradual withdrawal of security forces deployed to Popondetta under the State of Emergency (SoE) as the emergency operations scales down towards Feb 29, when it was gazetted to end.
But the aftermath of the SoE is a concern at a time the restoration committee is yet to arrive and establish itself, including familiarisation and briefing by the office of the SoE before the SoE team departs.
“I want the restoration team in the province by Feb 2 so we can outline some important issues and organisations they should properly deal with,” contingent commander Lt Col Walter Enumahe said, adding the first lot of troops left Popondetta yesterday.
The PNGDF’s HMS Salamaua returned to Port Moresby’s Lancron Naval base on Tuesday.
Two PNGDF fleets HMS Buna and the Arava aircraft will continue to assist with the remaining troops.
HMS Buna will continue to travel between Popondetta and Lae while the Arava aircraft will travel between Port Moresby and Popondetta and to some remote districts in the province.
Lt Col Walter Enuma said that the departed officers would not be replaced as the SoE was coming to an end.
He said most of those that would be kept till the last day of the SoE would include medics, engineers, infantry, navy and the air transport officers.
“We started withdrawing and we are not going to try to replace them.
“We are not looking at extending the SoE,” Lt Col Enuma said.
He added that unless another catastrophic disaster or an outbreak of health problem hits the province, then this would justify the extension of the SoE.
On the fate of the SoE, SoE controller Col Vagi Oala also said the Department of Inter Government Relations would be meeting with cabinet this week, where the issue of the SoE was expected to be discussed.
Lt Col Enuma, however, maintained that there was no justification for an extension.
“The trigger for scaling down is the withdrawal of our members,” he said.