Govt must come down hard on disciplined forces

 LAW and order is breaking down in PNG and much of blame for this must be laid on the disciplined forces. 

The very agencies that are supposed to uphold and enforce laws are not performing their mandated responsibilities.

For the defence force to attack future health workers in health care facilities is worrisome. 

It poses a major concern to church medical services and raises the question of what  type of training they are getting. 

Such behaviour portrays a bad image for our country. 

Frequent jail breakouts, police brutality are issues that raise more concerns. 

What is the root cause? 

Is it because successive governments have politicised and neglected the disciplined forces?

It appears that there is a total collapse in the command and control of the disciplined forces.

We  urge the government to address this issue involving the defence force, police force and correctional services. 

Clearly, discipline has eroded over the years, resulting in the unruly behaviour of members of the forces. 

The current situation is a massive internal security threat to citizens. 

The basic freedom  enshrined in our Constitution includes the freedom of speech and rights to a normal life, liberty and security. The latter right has been eroded.

In other countries, when there is a major jailbreak, or when the defence force goes berserk, the commander gets the boot.

But here in PNG, we seem to be very tolerant and its citizens are the ones who are suffering. 

Why are health workers suffering at the hands of the disciplined forces? 

Politicians condemned the incident to the highest level, but it is not the first time they did that. 

What we need is action. 

Wallace W. Kintak

chairman, Churches Medical Council