Following the announcement of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force’s continuation of assistance to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, Acting Commander of the Defence Force, Commodore Philip Polewara has said that the Force will stand by the police to support in regaining public confidence and restoring order to the country.
This new strategy will see the Defence Force personnel help bolster the ranks of the RPNGC as Special Constables.
The cooperation will see more Defence force intervention in tribal fight prone areas, particularly the three provinces of the Highlands Western Division.
“Concerning the PNGDF we’ve been there since 2018 supporting the RPNGC and we would like to see some end in sight.”
“We are not going to continue like this forever because it is taking up resources that would be better spent elsewhere.”
Polewara mentioned that a couple of meetings were held last week to find a way forward as to how the Force will operate in accordance within the parameters of the law in assisting the Police as both organizations operate differently in retrospect to their mandates.
“We are looking forward. We will stand by the police. This is our country and internal stability to us is of great concern.”
He stated that this is the journey that they are working towards and believes that the future will be bleak if the country continues to experience things such as civil unrests and tribal fighting.
The CDF said they are ready and able to stand by police.