Defence has names of Mendi fire suspects

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
Defence Force commander Brig-Gen Gilbert Toropo says they have the names of some people linked to the burning down of LNG project assets and state properties in Hela and Mendi.
He said they had identified people allegedly involved in the burning of a Link PNG aircraft, Governor William Powi’s house and the National and District Court houses in Mendi, Southern Highlands, on June 14. “We also have names of those perpetrators involved with the LNG project assets like the heavy machineries in Angore and the digging up of an access roadon June 19 in Hela,” Toropo said.
“We have details of the illegal weapons in their possession.
“We also have plans to retrieve those firearms.
“Together with the police, we will conduct roadblocks and cordon search areas of houses and villages that we know have firearms. And we will deal with those people who’re keeping those firearms.
“Therefore, we urge everyone to cooperate so that peace and stability can be maintained so that our people can move freely to have access to Government services and to conduct business.
“We also urged those people with illegal firearms to surrender them.”
Toropo said that the rules of engagement for the security forces deployed for State Of Emergency in Hela and Southern Highlands were to use appropriate minimum force as much as possible.
“I call on the leaders of these provinces to cooperate with the joint security forces to retrieve these illegal firearms in the hands of the perpetrators.”
Toropo said 440 soldiers were deployed in Hela, Enga and SHP to provide security and they would remain there until peace and stability had prevailed.