Police methods damaging

By SYLVESTER WEMURU
THE old ways of using police brutality and the burning down of houses in crime prevention and control must stop because it is seriously damaging the image of Papua New Guinea.
Individual and Community Rights Advocacy Forum chairman and lawyer Paul Harricknen said such inhumane practices “have no play in this modern era”.
“The Government and its law enforcement agencies, especially the police, must find new ways to deal with law and order issues effectively,” he added.
“The police need the respect of the people and communities to cooperate and help address law and order issues.
“Where is the community policing concept which was once proving successful under the former police commissioner Peter Agilo?
“Resorting to guns, aggression, might and extra-judicial killings have not and will not prevent and minimise crime.
“The archaic ways of dealing with law and order by might, violence and human rights abuse are only resulting in the further deterioration of law and order problems among communities.
“It is worrying when police go about terrorising people and communities and burning down houses instead of tracking down and arresting criminals.
“That seemed to be the case in West Yangoru’s Boem Village in West Yangoru.”
Harricknen, who heads the non-governmental human rights group said, policemen were restrained by law from using excessive force or methods to effect arrest.
“That is stated in their operational manual (together with standard operating procedures),” he said.
“Any breach amounts to abuse of human rights as guaranteed under the country’s Constitution.
“Papua New Guinea has also ratified the United Nations (UN) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 2008.
“It has a duty to uphold the civil and political rights and is also duty bound to report to the UN of its human rights record. With the current rise in allegations of State violence reports, what kind of reports will the state make to the UN?
“The prime minister and his Police Minister and the Government leadership must speak up against such alleged unlawful conduct and act accordingly.”