Police and PNGDF out in full force for VoNC

Police and defence force personnel will be out in numbers tomorrow-Tuesday 28th May to maintain peace and good order in the nation's capital as Parliament reconvenes and a motion of vote of no confidence in the government introduced.

Acting ACP NCD/Central Command Peter Guiness told a press briefing this afternoon, a joint taskforce is in place comprising about 400 police personnel together with 120 PNG defence force personnel.

Guiness has reassured the general public that, police will be out monitoring this VoNC but it will be normal business for everyone:

"I'd also like to warn the public that do not come out and do not think that you can come and do what you did on January 10. We will apply the full force of the law to everybody, any group, any person who think they can rob a store or burn a shop or do whatever you think you can do," ACP Guiness said in the press conference today

The police personnel while patrolling the city will primarily focus on securing all access and entrances into parliament while their counterparts will patrol the parliament house:

PNGDF Task Force Commander Lieutenant Colonel Velmore Kagena says a taskforce put in place will be playing a supportive role towards the police in this VoNC operation:

"Our security operations will be complemented, with plans that has been put in place by RPNGC and we’re supporting the respective zones as per the three zones and electorates.

"That is the PNG DFs support to RPNGC for this operation, playing a supportive role. We will continue to support whatever that is required of us in the coming days and weeks during this vote of no confidence period.

"So, we look forward to working together with the RPNGC personnel over the next couple of weeks".

The joint task force will be in operation until the conclusion of the Vote of no confidence.

Disciplined forces warned to not take sides

Police and defence force personnel have been warned to not partake in any political camps or provide security to politicians during this Vote of no confidence period.

This was the stern warning by Acting ACP NCD/Central Command Peter Guiness, when announcing plans for a joint security taskforce to maintain peace and good order at this time.

"There will be no police personnel, no defence force personnel escorting any politicians for that matter. There won't be any police from outside of Port Moresby coming with any politicians.

"If we find any of those police officers or soldiers, they will be referred to the task force joint commander, and if it's a police officer he will be detained, and if he's armed his firearm will be taken off him and this particular member will be deported back to his province and disciplinary actions will follow"

Business as usual

Police have announced, it will be normal business in the nation's capital tomorrow, Tuesday 28th May, when Parliament reconvenes at 2pm.

Acting ACP NCD/Central Command Peter Guiness says the police don't expect any major incidences and they will only be responsible to provide escort to the leaders when they go to Parliament.

He adds that there will and should not be any interferences whatsoever, until the Parliamentary business of a vote of no confidence is completed:

"Tomorrow is normal business for everyone. We got two camps at the moment, one at Loloata island and one at Sanctuary Hotel. So tomorrow they will be coming in of course they will be escorted into Parliament House by police, and we will leave them there and they can conduct their business in Parliament without any interference from anybody" ACP Guinness said today.