PORT MORESBY (The National/PINA) — Mutinous Papua New Guinea soldiers, fully armed and clad in battle gear, have mounted a large machine gun on a vehicle and driven through Wewak town.
It prompted calls for the immediate disarmament of the rebellious troops at Moem Barracks, Wewak.
East Sepik Provincial Police Cmdr. Leo Kabilo wants the soldiers disarmed as soon as possible and army vehicles recovered from them.
He believes that a sizable quantity of arms and ammunition stolen from the Moem Barracks armory has left the barracks and is now in the wrong hands.
Kabilo called on the top brass of the Defense Force to go into Moem Barracks as soon as possible and bring the situation under control before the election process commences in two weeks.
Wewak business houses, the general public and people living along the Sepik highway and in the villages are living in fear after what happened, said Kabilo.
The protesting soldiers—who burnt buildings, seized the armory and chased officers from the camp—at first demanded a halt to the force downsizing of the defense force and retrenchment of soldiers. But they have since added to their demands.
Meanwhile, a Moem Barracks soldier, identified as Obed Kara, is now being held in police custody for allegedly selling an AR15 rifle to a Western Highlands man, Michael Wanis, for 4,000 kina (around $1,300).
Wanis, of Kala village, appeared before the Wewak District Court, pleaded guilty and was fined 400 kina.
The rifle was found inside a bag of betel nuts belonging to Wanis just before it was loaded onto an aircraft bound for Mount Hagen.
Kabilo expressed concern over security during the forthcoming general elections, safety of business houses and the general public. He demanded that the renegade soldiers be immediately contained and neutralized.
He said criminal elements were waiting for any opportunity to spark a riot and loot shops.
“The general election is only two weeks away. I want the defense hierarchy to address the matter as soon as possible,” Kabilo said from Wewak.
“I don’t want this problem being dragged into the elections. The people must be free to exercise their constitutional right to cast their votes without being under any force or influence from anybody.”
He said the actions of a handful of soldiers in mounting a machine gun on a vehicle and parading through the town in full battle gear was totally unwarranted, causing panic in the town and the villages.
“Wewak business houses are feeling uneasy and fearful of what might happen,” said Kabilo.
He said the soldiers should confine their activities within the barracks as they had promised.
