PNGDF setting up base in Hela

THE Papua New Guinea’s Defence Force (PNGDF) will set up a forward operating Base (FOB) comprising a company of 100 men in Hela.
Commander Brig Gen Toropo, pictured, told The National that the PNGDF had decided to set up the FOB due to the ongoing law and order issues in the province. The call out first begun in December 2016 that cost tax payers K11 mil to quell tribal fighting in Hela and was later extended to Southern Highlands and Enga to address law and order issues in 2017 for the national general elections.
The call out was than extended again when a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck near Mt Bosavi at the borders of Southern Highlands and Hela to June this year but was again extended December following the massacre of women and children on July in Tari-Pori.
Toropo said troops were still in Hela, Enga and Southern Highlands to maintain security.
“We are also currently scoping out the new Hela defence barracks,” he said.
“Our engineering battalion are also working on the Highlands Highway as well. They’ve completed the Madang to Ramu road and the Baiyer to Jimi Road and are now working on the Ramu to Jimi Road which is a 90km stretch of road.”
“Also in Finschhafen (Morobe), a team of our engineers are on the ground to work on the road from Finchaffen to Bukawa.”