Troops to be deployed to PNG-Indonesia border

 By TAUNA GEORGE 
The Charlie Company of the First Royal Pacific Island Regiment (1PIR) at Taurama Barracks will soon be deployed to the PNG-Indonesia border.
The troops were given the all clear after impressing the commanding officer of 1RPIR Lt-Col Edison Napyo with their pre-deployment training.
Napyo said the troops have carried out their orders exceptionally well by completing different tasks they were assigned which were equal to border security requirements.
The troops were put through different realistic scenarios such as walking long distances.
“Charlie Company has done well and is good to go,” Napyo said.  The troops will be deployed next week along the Southern part of PNG that borders Indonesia and Australia.
Napyo said deployment was done routinely on a quarterly basis where more than 100 troops were deployed to patrol the areas to maintain government presence.
“During patrols soldiers would offer first aid treatment to the civil population as well as make them aware that despite the lack of road accessibility the Government is present.”
He said they have so far contained illegal activities such as drug and gun smuggling, illegal poaching and other trans-national crimes along the borders.