No issues between forces: Baki

Police Commissioner, Gary Baki, says there won’t be any issue between Police and Defence Force members working together during the APEC Joint Security Task Force (JSTF) operations.

Baki who is also the JSTF Commander said this in relations to questions on the history of clashes between the police and military and how this could have an impact under the JSTF.

“I do not think this similar kind of behaviour will be projected in this kind of arrangements. I don’t for one minute want for people to think that yeah you get them out and this is how they behave. No they won’t,” Baki said.

“I have total confidence in the way that Defence Force is being managed under the Brigadier General (Gilbert Toropo) and now our Colonel (Siale) Diro has mentioned so this (problem) will have no relationship to APEC operations.

PNGDF Chief of Force preparation, Colonel Siale Diro, said they will provide the required assistance for the JSTF to be effective.

On New Years day police and the military personell clashed in Port Moresby at the Boroko Police Station after two soldiers and both their wives were allegedly assaulted by drunk police officers near Taurama.

In 2015 an alleged shooting incident by police on Defence Force personnel turned the Manu bus stop into a ghost town after military personnel destroyed the market area and damaged police vehicles.

In a more recent incident, alleged drunken soldiers went on a rampage at the Manus Regional Processing Centre after transferees at the centre allegedly beat up a soldier.

During a retaliation raid by soldiers, several police officers manning the facility were injured.

Author: 
Cedric Patjole