Over the period 14 to 18 June 2022, the Chief of Defence Force (CDF) Major General Mark B.G. Goina, DMS, CBE, undertook a visit to PNGDF operational locations in the Highlands as part of the PNGDF preparations to support the 2022 National Elections NATEL 22)
The CDF was accompanied by members of his senior staff, members of the Department of Defence and the resident Defence Representatives from Australia, the United State and Indonesia.
The international Defence Advisors and Attachés were invited to allow them to fully understand the commitment of the PNGDF to supporting the delivery of NATEL 22 and to be able to appreciate the testing operational conditions faced by the deployed PNGDF personnel.
CDF also thanked our defence partners for their support in preparing the PNGDF personnel involved in NATE22.
The CDF and his guests visited the Task Force Headquarters at Mt Hagen, the Forward Operating base at Tari and the Forward Operating Position at Pogera.
At each location they met with members of the local administration and RPNGC and were briefed on the security issues faced by the PNGDF troops operating there.
When talking to the local administration and deployed personnel the CDF stressed that the role of the PNGDF was clear in that they were deploying to the Highlands Region in support of the Electoral Commission and the RPNGC.
He also reiterated that any groups or individuals that look to disrupt or illegally influence the polling process will be dealt with quickly and efficiently, and that along with the RPNGC and Corrections Service (CS) the 1000 deployed PNGDF personnel were focused on delivering a safe and secure environment for free, fair and transparent elections to occur.
He also reminded our partners and local administrators that throughout the NATEL 22 process, the PNGDF will continue to undertake its business-as-usual tasks along the border and at sea protecting our sovereignty, our prosperity and most importantly our people from harm.
The CDF and party, along with the Secretary for Defence were also present at the official launching of the Highlands National Election 2022 Operations in which nearly 300 members of the RPNGC, PNGDF and CS were on parade.