|
PNG police offers to
protect Sogavare
By HARLYNE JOKU
PAPUA New Guinea has offered to provide a
close personnel protection unit to Solomon Islands prime minister
Manasseh Sogavare.
The arrangement will be made under the Regional Assistance Mission to
Solomon Islands (Ramsi), Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Paul
Tiensten confirmed yesterday.
He said the offer was made when Solomon Islands foreign minister
Patterson Oti was in PNG.
Mr Tiensten said details were yet to be put in place.
“We will provide personnel who are well trained at Bomana, equivalent to
international standards and have the necessary skills to protect the
Solomon Islands prime minister. I am sure our police will do a good
job,” Mr Tiensten said.
He said the issue of arming was sensitive.
“The question of whether the unit will be armed is a contentious matter
that will be discussed in the coming days.”
He also announced that Ramsi had decided to increase the PNG police
contingent from10 to 20 in view of the country’s prominent role in the
region.
Mr Tiensten said the PNG Government appreciated the gesture and Prime
Minister Sir Michael Somare had agreed that PNG would provide additional
police personnel.
He said the decision by the PNG Government had enabled Solomon Islands
government to reconsider its previous position to rearm the Solomon
Islands police force.
Mr Tiensten said the PNG Government had commended the Solomon Islands
government’s decision not to rearm the Solomon Islands police force.
Mr Tiensten made the comments at a joint press conference with the
special coordinator of Ramsi Tim George and special coordinator Masi
Lomaloma at Parliament House yesterday.
It is Mr George’s first visit to PNG since taking over the post from
James Bradley, who is now the new Australian high commissioner to Fiji.
Mr George is here to inform the Prime Minister and PNG leaders and
officials on the progress of Ramsi.
He said PNG’s contribution to Ramsi was of high value.
On the issue relating to PNG’s offer to send a police unit to protect
Solomon Islands PM, George said more details needed to be worked out
with police commissioner.
“Whatever arrangements reached should be what Sogovare is comfortable
with,” Mr George said.
He added there was a good framework in place under the Ramsi arrangement
with the SI police force.
 
|
