Death to be probed: Minister

AN investigation is to be conducted into the death of a 20-year-old man of Weam in the North Fly district of Western allegedly by soldiers at the border, Defence Minister Saki Soloma told Parliament.
North Fly MP James Donald asked if the minister was aware of the death at Wipim village along the PNG-Indonesian border early this week.
Soloma said he was not aware of it and had not received any report of the incident, but if true then he was sorry.
He said an investigation would be conducted into allegations of soldiers being involved.
Although Soloma did not comment on an NEC decision to convert the Kiunga military base into a full military base, he said that four border patrol posts would be set up along the border, in addition to the existing four.
Meanwhile, he said recruitment had been put on hold until next year.
He said a lot of comments and concerns were raised about recruitment, with claims of bribery and nepotism.
To address discipline in the force, they will make it compulsory that all recruitment be done through the school-leaver form, Soloma said.
He said grade 12 students would to apply through the school leaver’s application to join the military.