300 soldiers set up checkpoints to prepare for Apec

More than 300 Defence Force soldiers are conducting road checks in Port Moresby in an exercise to boost preparedness for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, says to a joint statement by NCD police and the Defence Force yesterday.
NCD metropolitan superintendent Perou N’Dranou said the exercise was approved by NCD police.
“It is a very important training exercise for the First Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (1RPIR) to get themselves ready for the leaders’ summit in November,” he said.
“I appeal to all our good citizens to cooperate.
“We would like to inform the public that it’s a friendly exercise and not a threat, invasion or something the public should be afraid of. Traffic police will be there also to conduct their normal roads checks during the exercise.
“The programme has already started and will be completed today.
“The people living in and around NCD should know that it’s not an invasion, it’s an exercise.
“They are a friendly force on the ground so the public should not be in fear over this exercise.”
Commanding officer of 1RPIR Lt Col Boniface Aruma said it was important the public was informed about the exercise.
“I apologise for any inconvenience caused to the public,” he said.
“Everything we do in this exercise will set the conditions of the troops to perform and deliver security successfully. It is one of the milestones that we are working with police traffic to reach to conduct effective vehicle road checks to monitor vehicles moving in and out of specific location for the meeting.
“The designated areas for this exercise are roads at 9-Mile Back Road to Gerehu, Gerehu’s Tete settlement and Morata.”