Better disciplined, better equipped

 PAPUA New Guinea Defence Force Commander Gilbert Toropo candidly admitted over the weekend that the country’s armed forces are, to a point, hopelessly inadequate to carry out their duties. 

He said the force was yet to fulfil the directives of the Defence White Paper which states that the military must increase its numbers to 5,000 personnel by 2017, and it must be equipped to handle roles and responsibilities expected in protecting and safeguarding our borders (land and maritime), while also fulfilling a civilian role in nation building as well as being on standby to assist provincial authorities in times of natural disaster, and the police to maintain the peace and order in communities. 

It is a slow process. 

Under commander Commodore Peter Ilau the process to re-strategize and reprioritise the force’s goals started in earnest in the mid 2000s. 

Essentially, what Ilau wanted to achieve was to rebuild the reputation of the Defence Force that had been left ragged by the Bougainville crisis. 

He and his successor Brigadier General Francis Agwi did this by complying with the Defence Ministry and government initiative to streamline the force and help shed its image of a lethargic, unproductive state body costing the country millions to maintain annually. 

The retrenchment of long serving serviceman was necessary and although there have been issues with the payment of retrenchment benefits from some quarters, the process has seen the force reduced to manageable numbers, while the recruitment of new personnel is ongoing. 

Toropo’s asserted that his army, including its different land, sea and air elements, needed a serious overhaul. He said the current force of 2000 was inadequate for a country the size of PNG. 

“The Government directs us, through the Defence White Paper, to increase to 5000 manpower by 2017 because of the major events (and resource projects) as well as routine activities that we conduct,” Toropo said.   

“We have a 200-mile economic zone that needs to be covered and a land border that needs to be maintained. Recruitment will be a major requirement for the force from now onwards.” 

Any nation that does not have a capable military force is at a disadvantage particularly when situations arise between neighbours or in the region that require a response. 

But more than that there is nothing more reassuring than knowing you have a capable national defence force that can be called on. 

Last week in the mining town of Porgera, Enga, Defence Force personnel rescued two women who were held captive and tortured by the tribesmen who had accused them of sorcery. 

The army’s intervention prevented what would most probably have the barbaric killing of those two women. 

What was the army doing in that part of the country? 

They had been patrolling that area to protect the interests of the Porgera gold mine and maintain order wherever possible. 

The soldiers were able to bring the two rescued women to the safety of the Porgera police station. 

We cannot imagine the what would have become of these two women had the patrol not acted. 

Earlier in the month, Defence Force soldiers on patrol at the PNG-Indonesian border were fired upon by Indonesian security forces that were in pursuit of rebels. 

The incident highlighted the need to have a well-equipped force capable of securing the borders lest we have more instances of incursions by foreign forces. 

However, with all the talk of what the force needs in terms of man power and equipment, one very important point must be stressed, the army is often referred to as the disciplined forces because of its traditions and regimented style but over the years the soldiers have sullied the reputation of the force and country which they serve with bouts of violence directed towards the public. 

These instances have painted a negative picture of the force and have had many question their professionalism and commitment to serving and protecting the people. 

There have also been troubling situations in the recent past where the army has been used by politicians to further their causes. 

It is up to the state and Defence hierarchy to create a new path for the armed forces, one that will see it become a stabilising influence and a force that will help build and protect a prosperous Papua New Guinea.