1000 soldiers join police officers on Apec duty

THE Papua New Guinea Defence Force Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) coordination teams say the preparations phase has ended and are moving towards the operations phase.
More than 1000 local soldiers joined the Joint Security Task Force (JSTF) command on Friday to help 1110 police officers who had been in training.
Joint Security Task Force commander Colonel Esekia Wenzel said the Defence Force had been preparing for the past four years to be part of the security group.
“Today has ended the preparation phase,” he said.
Wenzel said New Zealand had been supporting and were frontline partnership since day one.
The operations are to provide a safe, secure and a successful event.
Chief of Force preparation Colonel Siale Diro said city residents would see much work happening at the Port Moresby harbour and airport.