1,000 soldiers to be based in Hela to keep peace, stability: Toropo

CLOSE to 1,000 soldiers will be based in Hela to help with stability and security of the province for its long-term growth, PNG Defence Force Chief Maj-Gen Gilbert Toropo says.
He was responding to troublemakers in the province who shot dead a soldier on Friday.
Police killed four criminals, including the man who had killed the solider in a shootout.
“The PNGDF will remain in the province as the long-term growth and development plan is to establish a third infantry battalion within Hela in accordance with the NEC (National Executive Council) decision of 2014,” Maj-Gen Toropo said.
“This will see the presence of close to 1,000 troops in line with our constitutional responsibility to deliver security and stability to the region to support economic growth and provide border security.
“The Tari forward operating base has been completed and will see up to 100 personnel deployed there while the remainder of the major infrastructure is scoped and constructed for the third battalion.
“I want to make it clear that we will continue to work with the police to apprehend and bring to justice the criminals and the warlords.
“Hela hosts a key LNG project and it is in all our interest to ensure security is established and enforced.”
He reaffirmed the death of the soldier from the Charlie Company 2RPIR while responding to an alert of armed men harassing the local community and firing guns.
Soliders in three vehicles reached the site and Maj-Gen Toropo said they were fired upon, resulting in the death the soldier.
“Due to darkness and the location of it – being the site of a large criminal presence – Charlie Company withdrew, rushing the soldier to Tari Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival due to wounds to his chest and abdomen.”
Maj-Gen Toropo said the next day security force, including police, went back to the area in the hope of arresting the criminals.
“The lead vehicles of the convoy were fired upon by the criminals numbering up to 17. Bullets fired by the criminals hit a security force vehicle on the bonnet and the fuel tank,” he said.
“The security forces retaliated in defense and a gun battle lasted four-five hours. This resulted in the death of four criminals, including the key person who killed the soldier.”
“We condemn the actions of the gunmen and the criminal elements in the attack on the Defence Force and we will not tolerate this nonsense. We will not run away from Hela Province, we will remain to assist police to bring the warlords and criminals to face justice.
“The PNGDF will remain in Hela as the long-term growth and development plan is to establish a third Infantry Battalion within Hela.”
In the meantime, the soldier killed during the incident has been brought to Mt Hagen to be flown to Port Moresby on Monday.