Aimo’s call for CS help denied

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The National, Monday 19th December 2011

AMBUNTI-Dreikikir MP Tony Aimo last Thursday asked acting Correctional Services Commissioner Martin Balthazar to put together a special team to help police during the political impasse in NCD.
But his rival in the Peter O’Neill faction Sailon Beseo declined the request, claiming he was still the minister until the political stand-off was resolved.
The letter from Aimo to Balthazar specifically asked for the PNGDF-trained team that helped in the recapture of bank robber William Kapris a year ago.
He wanted the “operation team or unit to stand by to assist police personnel in the interest of national security in compliance with the Supreme Court decision handed down on Dec 12”.
He asked that the names of the officers be forwarded to him by close of business.
The commissioner’s office said it received the letter at 4pm last Thursday.
But Beseo replied the same day, saying the CS ministerial office would not be vacated until the political situation “stabilises and one prime minister assumes full control of the government”.  
In another letter the next day, Beseo told Aimo to refrain from giving instructions or directives to the office of the commissioner and management as it could cause confusion in the disciplined force.
Beseo described the orders by Aimo to band the CS special unit as detrimental to national security “in this critical time of political turmoil”.