Hired guns massacred

POLICE will not drop their guards, but will review plans for security engagement in Enga, commissioner David Manning says.
The peace-enforcement operation also included the appointment of all Defence Force personnel deployed to Enga, Hela and Southern Highlands as special constables (with police powers).
Manning, who is on the ground to assess the situation, said of Sunday’s massacre: “Those killed were hired gunmen who killed for money.
“The acts of barbaric violence that took place on Sunday disgust the nation and they demand a hard response.
“It is also clear that those killed, and the bodies recovered by police, were not innocent bystanders but hired gunmen who killed for money,” he said in a statement.
“There is no sorrow for a domestic terrorist who gets killed and our concern is for the welfare of the innocent who just want to live safe lives.”
Former army officer-turned politician, Belden Namah, yesterday described Sunday’s genocide as a
well-planned and executed operation.
The Vanimo-Green MP told Parliament that “whether it was an ambush (with) enemy tribes lying in wait or a full-on assault with high-powered military weapons”, it seemed to be well planned.
“It was another dark moment for our country’s history,” he said.
In related events:

• WAPENAMANDA MP Mikki Kaeok has called on government to declare a state of emergency;
• UNITED Nations strongly condemned the killings on Sunday; and
• PRIME Minister James Marape told Parliament he would present a report on the law and order situation and how his government planed to address it.

Manning reported that there was no renewed fighting but security personnel are not dropping their guard.
Security personnel have been given orders to shoot any tribesman who raises a weapon.
Manning said: “We have had the opportunity to review operational plans for enhancing security engagement in Enga. It’s called a peace enforcement operation.
“I have also appointed all PNG Defence Force members deployed to Enga, Hela and Southern Highlands as special constables.”
He said this gave them the power and protection they needed to do their jobs, including the authority to make arrests and where required to discharge their
weapons to save lives and properties.
“Any further attempt to cause trouble will be dealt with harshly, and any tribesmen who raises a weapon will more likely be shot by security forces.”
Police can confirm that 49 bodies have been recovered, 37 on Sunday and 14 on Monday.
It is possible that the additional bodies will be found as police continue to search the area.
He met with police commanders and local leaders in Enga yesterday to review the current security response following the tribal fighting on last weekend.