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Ilau refutes PM arrest rumours
PNG Defence Force Commander Commodore Peter
Ilau yesterday said the military will have no involvement in the Moti
inquiry report, and rejected media reports of rumours of an alleged plot
by some soldiers to arrest Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare over the
Moti issue.
Mr Ilau said the military had no power to arrest any civilian as the
Moti report was before the court and the implementation of its
recommendations was the responsibility of law enforcment agencies other
than the army.
Rumours of a plot to arrest Sir Michael started swirling in recent weeks
and hit the front page of the Post-Courier yesterday.
The newspaper reported that the rumour was taken seriously by Police
Commissioner Gari Baki and the National Security Advisory Committee.
Mr Ilau said that after hearing of the rumour, he directed all unit
commanders to investigate it and they concluded that the rumour was not
coming from the army.
“At the moment there is a lot of news in the media but no one knows
where it is coming from,” he told reporters at a press conference at
Murray Barracks.
He said the report on the rumour was unfair and discrediting to his
troops and their families.
“I would like to see some sort of apology be accorded to my officers,
their men and their families,” he said.
Mr Ilau urged the media to disclose to him if they knew who was behind
the rumours so he could deal with them.
He warned the media that there were interested parties pushing these
rumours and gave his assurance that no Government was in danger from the
army.
Mr Ilau said he had also complained about the report to the PNG Media
Council.
Last night, Post-Courier editor Blaise Nangoi issued a statement saying
they stood by their story.
 
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