Aust minister visits
The National, Friday February 21st, 2014
By LARRY ANDREW
AUSTRALIAN Justice Minister Michael Keenan yesterday visited the Lae War Cemetery and PNG Recycling at 6-Mile for a gun disposal ceremony.
At the war cemetery he was met by the Major Dave Siggers from the Australian Defence Force attached to PNG Defence Force in Lae where he laid a wreath to remember fallen soldiers.
He was later shown around the cemetery where 2,347 Australians and about 420 Indians and other members of the Commonwealth were laid to rest.
The delegation, including Australian High Commissioner Deborah Stokes, went to the PNG Recycling yard at 6-Mile where Keenan participated in a gun disposal ceremony.
Keenan got behind the controls of a metal-crushing machine to destroy the first container of homemade guns and other items such as bush knives. It was witnessed by Lae metropolitan commander Supt Iven Lakatani, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Lae police.
Keenan said gun disposal was part of an ongoing cooperation between Australia and Papua New Guinea.