Law, order report expected

By MAJELEEN YANEI
PRIME Minister James Marape is expected to provide a report in Parliament today on how to address the country’s law and order situation and tribal warfare.
Marape, responding to a question from Vanimo-Green MP Belden Namah on what the Government plan following the death of 53 people in Enga, said “it pains a lot of us when we get such reports where lives are lost”.
“It is not a joyful news. I want to pass my condolences to the family of those who are currently bereaving the loss of young lives,” Marape said.
“I will get a very detailed response on what we are doing as a government.
“It is not that we haven’t done anything.”
He said there had been four police commissioners between 2011 and 2018.
“You don’t expect discipline and enforcement in key constitutional office when the heads are supposed to safeguard our country,” Marape said.
Namah described the Enga massacre as “another dark moment” in the nation’s history.
“As a former military officer, it seemed to be a well-planned operation, whether it was an ambush, enemy tribes lying in wait or a full on assault with high-powered military weapons,” he said.
Namah asked Marape to explain the government’s policy on combating law and order situations and tribal warfare.
“Can you inform the people what your Government has done so far in combating law and order situations and tribal warfare?
“How many of those murderers have been arrested and brought to justice?
“What level of combat readiness is our military at since they have been engaged in State of Emergency operations in Hela and Enga in the past 10 years?”
He urged Marape to revisit a proposal Namah had submitted for the establishment of a PNG Homeland Security ministry and department,” Namah added.
“PNG declared itself a Christian country yet in the past five years, our law and order situations is that of a country that is not a Christian country.”
In July 2019, just after Marape became Prime Minister, he warned, after 24 people were massacred in Hela’s Tari, that “I’m coming for you”.

Massacre is disturbing: Albanese

AUSTRALIA’S Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described Sunday’s massacre in Enga as “disturbing”, saying his government is ready to support PNG in whatever way it can.
“That is very disturbing the news that has come out of Papua New Guinea,” Albanese told the Australia media.” We remain available to provide whatever support we can in a practical way, of course, to help our friends in PNG.”
Yesterday in Port Moresby, Opposition Leader Douglas Tomuriesa told the Government to “put its foot down” and address the continuous law and order issues.
“We must deal with it today because law and order issues have affected a lot of people,” he said.
“The prime minister cannot keep continuing to point fingers. (He) needs to put his foot down. He cannot continue to speak as if it is not happening and as if it is not vital.”
On the Enga massacre, Tomuriesa said little had been reported about what happened to the women and children “who are homeless now”.
East Sepik Governor Allan Bird said the Government needed to assure the people that their safety was guaranteed.
“We are seeing the increase in the frequency and severity of criminal actions. Just last month, we saw the riots in Port Moresby. Now, there are 64 people killed in Enga. Where is the next one going to be? Why do we still not have these capabilities to pursue and take down these people that are terrorising our women and children?”
Bird added that the Government needed to address other issues too.

O’Neill condemns massacre as reflection on ‘all of us’

IALIBU-Pangia MP and former prime minister Peter O’Neill has described the recent massacre in Enga where more than 50 people lost their lives as “a reflection on all of us.”
“I condemn the killings in Enga last Sunday in the strongest possible way,” O’Neill said.
“No matter the reason, it is never justified to take another person’s life.“The 50-plus lives lost in Enga are a reflection on all of us in Papua New Guinea.”
He said it was truly sad and shameful.
“We must take a close look at what is happening in our society. We are in danger of becoming immune and desensitised to the sickening and increasing violence that is gripping our country.”
He said news of the Enga massacre was the headline on every major news outlet around the world.
It followed the Jan 10 civil unrest in Port Moresby which defined the country as a lawless, no-go zone of danger.
“People who died were Papua New Guineans (who) hoped for a better future for themselves and their families. They were fathers and farmers and husbands and sons.
“They were part of us and despite their actions that may have contributed to their fate, we cannot just let this pass without thinking deeply about what is going wrong that literally thousands of our people are resorting to violence to solve disputes.” He said Prime Minister James Marape in a news conference to announce the numbers in Pangu, described it as “domestic terrorism” when asked by reporters. “Seems to be a catch-phrase these days to describe every act of violence as domestic terrorism. These are murders, not terrorism,” O’Neill said.
Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas said warnings had been issued to the police and Government recently that violence was likely to erupt again in the area.
“Why was nothing done?” Sir Peter said.