Soldiers train for overseas missions
By JUNITA SOL GOMA
TRAINING of the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) troops for missions abroad is already underway, but the Government needs to approve it before any troops can be deployed.
PNGDF chief of staff Navy Captain Alois Tom Ur said the PNGDF has been working on a proposal over the past three years that would make the country’s troops available for overseas deployment.
Mr Ur said this following the interview Commodore Peter Ilau had with the Radio New Zealand International.
He said the soldiers had all been cleared for the United Nations (UN) standards and are waiting for the Government to approve their submissions.
“At the moment, we are still undergoing processes where we need the Government to amend the DF Act which will pave the way for two aims for the PNGDF,” Mr Ur said.
He said if the legislation is amended, it will enable troops to be deployed overseas according to the Defence Force Abroad Act and activate the reserve force.
Mr Ur said the DF was eager to start deploying soldiers as observers.
“Later it will send a platoon up to 100 men at any time,” he said.
Mr Ur said the soldiers would benefit while working with their international counterparts, whether as UN peacekeepers or part of regional deployments as in East Timor and the Solomon Islands.
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