Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) soldiers have been given powers to arrest, and discharge their weapons to protect innocent lives and properties.
Police Commissioner David Manning made this announcement in Wabag, Enga Province when attending to the massacre of more than 50 men killed in a violent tribal warfare on Sunday.
“Any further attempt to cause trouble, it will be dealt with harshly, and any tribesman who raises a weapon will more than likely be shot by security forces,” Manning said.
“We have had the opportunity to review operational plans for enhancing security engagement in Enga and this is what you could call peace enforcement operation.
“I have also appointed all PNGDF members deployed to Enga, Hela and SHP as Special Constables.
This gives soldiers the power and protection they need to do their jobs, including the authority to make arrests and where required, to discharge their weapons to save innocent lives and people’s property,” he added.
The acts of barbaric violence that took place over those hours on Sunday disgusts the nation and they demand a hard response, he added.
“It is also clear that those killed and the bodies recovered by police were not innocent bystanders, but were hired guns who kill for money.
“There is no sorrow for a domestic terrorist who gets killed, and our concern is for the welfare of the innocent who just want to live a safe life.
“Police can confirm that 49 bodies have been recovered at this point, 37 were recovered on Sunday and a further 12 on Monday,” Commissioner Manning said.
“It is possible that additional bodies will be found as police continue to search the area.”
Commissioner Manning said he cannot state enough the importance of community leaders working with police to prevent further violence and identify the individuals behind the violence.
“These ethnic fights stem from wicked people who in the end cause the deaths of their own people when they stir up a fight.
“While I recognise it is hard because there are threats and intimidation involved, but community leaders have to step up, work with police to identify the ringleaders.
“This is a partnership between police and communities and when community leaders provide information we can act on it and go after the culprits and bring them down.
“The situation on the ground has returned to relative normalcy with no renewed fighting, however, we are not dropping our guard,” the Commissioner said.
