The Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Trade and International Investments and Defense Chair, Belden Namah has deemed the lethal operational order given to all members of the Police force as a threat to national security and is calling for the Commissioner of police to rescind this operational order.
Namah has condemned the order dated 12th August, stating the rise in law & order is due to lack of discipline, breakdown in command and control and lack of resourcing by successive governments adding that it is their issue.
“There is no civil war or act of insurgency in the country to warrant such and operational order.”
“There is no basis whatsoever in the arrest act or anywhere else to issue such dangerous orders.”
Namah stated that what has been transpiring in the upper highlands has been happening for generations and that people are adapting to new ways and weapons to settle old scores.
The Chair further said that this has gotten worse because of the lack of leadership shown by political leaders and elites in the respective area to address these issues.
Thus he is calling on the Police to be pre-emptive instead of reactionary.
“Get intelligence and strike first to those who arm the tribes.”
“To keep their leaders out of prison, they will surrender their weapons.”
Namah has now issued a stern warning to the Police Commissioner calling on his to think twice about this decision.
“I do not want a repeat of Bougainville anywhere else in our country.”
“It was because of such [operational orders] by our police that caused what is known as the Bougainville Civil War.