Try other means to ease violence

MY views relate to the escalating killings and lawlessness in the upper Highlands of Papua New Guinea.
As a citizen and one that is coming from that part of the region, I wish to make the following observations, and if need be, for the Government to take heed and intervene.
Many times, the Government ‘sservice delivery and law enforcement through the use of the police and defence force fail miserably to contain escalating situations but the situation gets worse by the day.
Should the government send in police and defence force every as if there is a war?
No.
The focus of addressing situations should be to strategise.
Perhaps, try the churches.
Build multiple churches and make these rural areas more accessible.
Or perhaps, the Government needs to build more infrastructure and open up remote areas in the upper Highlands and let them have a taste of development and modernisation instead of sending the disciplined forces.
These areas needs to be opened up so there is some balance between their standard of life and the changing trends.
They can than appreciate development and live a useful and productive life. The Government needs to identify a few very high-impact projects along the Enga, Hela, Southern Highlands and Sepik border areas and engage the people to change their mindset, so these animistic attitudes can be processed to good and useful citizens.
The Government’s priority in resolving the escalating lawlessness in the country seems all wrong – simply the modus operandi needs to be re-priorities and rearranged in order to tackle the situation.
The very suggestion to the Government is for them, through the Law Reform Commission, reform all key legislations such as the Summary Offences Act, Criminal Code Act, the Sorcery Act, the Drug and Control Substance Acts and raise the penalty level to reflect the changing trend.
For example, you can’t impose a three months sentence on an addicted druggie hoping he will change. No!
The Government needs to do more than just send soldiers and police officers.
We can’t continue to lock these people in the rural areas and urge them to surrender their arms
The Government should be held accountable for all the escalations tension in the upper Highlands.
The Government should walk the talk.
Over to you Government!

Koreken Levi – Lawyer