PORT MORESBY (Papua New Guinea Post-Courier/PINA) — A former army commander says the Papua New Guinea government must get the Defense Force into the Southern Highlands to clamp down on “anarchy.”
Ted Diro’s call came as the first siege in the general elections campaign entered its fifth day with two policemen and a candidate being held hostage in a village in the Southern Highlands.
Diro, now the leader of the People’s Action Party, said he had a candidate in the Tari-Pore electorate in next month’s elections. The candidate had to get out of the area several times because of the vicious attacks on people, Diro said.
“My information is that three electorates, Tari-Pore, Koroba-Kopiago and Komo-Magarima, are totally out of control,” he said.
The siege drama follows a shootout on Friday between police and a band of people now holding the three men hostage. A policeman was killed in the clash as well as two men from the group holding the hostages.
Koroba-Lake Kopiago MP Herowa Agiwa said he was surprised to learn of the hostage drama but admitted some of those holding the three were his supporters.
He has opted not to interfere with former Southern Highlands Gov. Anderson’s Agiru’s attempts to free the hostages.
Diro said: “The Defense Force must be called up straightaway.”
Police Commissioner Joseph Kupo said: “I want to concentrate on the safe release of my policemen, this is the position I will adopt right now.”
Diro said a call-up of the soldiers could be done under the control of the Police Force.
Villagers had blockaded parts of the main highway through the affected areas and a state of anarchy existed there.
“Democracy does not exist up there any longer,” Diro said.
“People are walking around with bush knives and killing people at the slightest provocation, the slightest insult, according to my sources. The police are being overpowered by the situation. The range of armaments is substantial. Police cannot act against them alone.”
Asked about reports of disagreements among the Defense Force about getting involved in the elections, Diro said military people always knew they could ignore illegal commands.
