Pundari vows relentless crackdown on illegal guns

The newly appointed Police Minister, Sir John Pundari, has issued a strong warning to criminals and gun holders, declaring an all-out crackdown on illegal firearms across Papua New Guinea, starting with Enga Province.

Speaking passionately at his first media conference today, since taking office, Sir John said the country can no longer tolerate the spread of illegal guns, which he described as a major driver of tribal fighting, crime, and fear.

The conference was held at the Stanley Hotel in Port Moresby and was attended by Police Commissioner David Manning and senior officers of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, and members of the Australian Federal Police [AFP].

"Well, I am seriously taking my role and responsibility as police minister. I just don't want to fake it. My heart is at the right place."

"I am not here because I want the ministry and the privileges that comes with it. I have had enough of illegal guns. I have had enough of lawlessness living in a remote province or a remote electorate of this country,” Sir John said.

He stressed that illegal firearms are not only an Enga or Highlands problem, but a nationwide threat.

“Guns is not just an Engan issue. It's not just a Hela issue. It's not just a Southern Highlands issue. It's an issue that is all over Papua New Guinea,” he said.

Sir John confirmed that Enga will be the starting point for decisive action, including the immediate training of 300 reserve police officers and the recruitment of up to 200 regular police.

"We recruit for about one or two hundred regular policemen. And I have given the direction that it be done and this expat AFP, Australian Federal Police recruits be posted to Enga within the next seven to 21 days because of one thing, and that one thing is a challenge to the regime of my government and my prime minister has given me."

He also announced plans to deploy AFP officers to support training, discipline, and leadership in the province.

"It concerns you in as much as it concerns me and it concerns every one of us. While the illegal firearm issue might be a nationwide issue, the fact that we Engans take this illegal gun to the battlefield and shoot each other has tarnished the good name of this nation."

"It has tarnished the good name of us as provincial leaders, members of parliament and the peace loving good citizens of the Enga province by just by a few who think that they can control just because they are empowered by these illegal guns, but the time is now to deal with thugs and criminals and warlords."

"My direction to the Police Commissioner is that the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary must provide the leadership to be relentless in addressing these illegal guns in my province, Hela, Southern Highlands and of course the rest of the country as well."

"And we've got to start aggressively somewhere and I feel that Enga was the best place to start with."

He ruled out any plan to buy back weapons, saying, "After consultation with my good governor (Sir Peter Ipatas) for the regular placement and the need for the reserve policy, I'm not going to go and trade cash for illegal guns."

"That's not going to happen. That is not sustainable," he said, reasoning the possibility of the money being used again to purchase other illegal firearms and ammunition.

All back is the money not gonna buy more gun again."

He instead urged all the warlords and those in the province in possession of illegal firearms and ammunition to surrender them during an amnesty period.

Sir John warned that while an amnesty will be announced in the next two weeks, police will still act decisively once it ends, in that if any of these weapons are found to be used in any tribal fight with factual evidence, then those who surrender them could be arrested, charged and prosecuted.

“On the back of intelligence, the police will come for you,” he said.

The Police Minister also praised Justice Graham Elis, the Enga based judge, whom the Minister says has also been instrumental in assisting to minimize law and order issues, particularly in relation to peace efforts as a result of tribal fights in the province.

The Minister further called on all national, provincial, district and LLG leaders and citizens to stand together, saying the fight against illegal guns must begin now to restore peace, safety, and confidence across the country.