Somare slams attack on city policemen

ANGORAM MP Arthur Somare yesterday condemned Monday’s attack on Port Moresby policemen by an outside unit brought into the capital city last December.
“While foreign troops should not have been brought into the capital in the first place, such an incident could have been prevented if police personnel had remained neutral and simply upheld the law and the Constitution,” Somare said.
“This action of a police unit grievously assaulting another and questioning their political alliance is deplorable and against the ethos of the police force.”
Somare said an internal investigation must be set up to deal with the perpetrators and Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga must account to all police officers for the unnecessary assault.
“The foreign troops that are in the capital city must be stood down immediately and returned to their stations of origin.
“These members of the police force are behaving like mercenaries by taking orders from rogue politicians.
“I wish to publicly express my concerns that other members of parliament are being threatened and intimidated by a rogue faction of the police force whose actions are endorsed by the rogue regime.
“Similarly, members of the judiciary face these threats and intimidation.”
Somare said all Papua New Guineans should stand up and say no to such a culture taking root in the police force.
“No Papua New Guinean should accept oppression and feel they cannot speak out.
“We must all play our part to prevent this situation from escalating to a level where it is completely out of control.
“For these reasons, we must continue to say no to the Judicial Conduct Act and the deferral of the election.
“Our right to speak for appropriate leadership and a way out of this crisis must not be denied.
“There is no crisis to
warrant the prolonged presence of this foreign unit in the capital.
“They should be sent back to where they came from so that police in the capital can carry out their duty to safeguard the public,” Somare said.