The Controller of the 14 Day State of Emergency, Acting Police Commissioner Donald Yamasombi has released amendments to the SoE Measures which are now in full effect. The Controller by virtue of the powers conferred in sect. 228 of the Constitution, revoking the first copy of the security measures and shedding more light into what measures will be taken in the remainder of the SoE. The amendment will see a complete ban on public gatherings, including street vending but excluding religious gatherings and Funerals or Haus Krais. This also gives power to the Papua New Guinea Defense Force Personnel who, acting as special constables under the SoE to disperse any public gathering within this measure and also dispersion of crowds outside shops or warehouses with the intention to of stealing or breaking and entering into the shop, warehouse, or government installations. Alcohol still remains banned for consumption in General Public, but will only be consumed in Pubs, Bars, Nightclubs, Hotels, and similar establishments between the hours of 10:00am to 10:00pm. “Any person found to be consuming any form of alcohol in a moving vehicle or in a public place of unlicensed alcohol Outlet would be searched upon reasonable suspicion.” The Controller has also advised that local shops/service providers providing goods and services should endeavour to maintain fair pricing for all services provided and with instructions given to the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission to ensure that this measure is adhered to. For the purposes of clarity, the measures allow Police and members of the PNGDF to stop and search vehicles transporting groups of people for public gatherings. In addition to the Search Act of 1977, the Police and PNGDF have been granted the authority to conduct routine searches and will be allowed to: 1. Conduct roadblocks or searches on a vessel at sea 2. Pat down searches of individuals 3. May be able to search a person upon reasonable suspicion of the persons intent to carry out an offence These searches will subject citizens to bag searches, may also require subject to remove outer clothing, including articles placed in the persons clothing, pass through X-Ray scanners and the use of walk-through detectors and handheld detectors. As for the recent concerns raised by the public on a purported curfew. For this SoE, the controller has advised that there is no Curfew in place.