Troops to man border

 By TAUNA GEORGE 
The Charlie Company of the First Royal Pacific Island Regiment (1RPIR) at Taurama Barracks in Port Moresby will 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 had carried out their orders exceptionally well by completing different tasks they were assigned to, which were for border security requirements.
The troops were put through different tasks 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. 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.”
Napyo said they have so far contained illegal activities such as drug and gun smuggling, illegal poaching and other trans-national crimes along the borders.
He commended the soldiers for maintaining discipline during their operations.