The joint forces for the Hela call-out will not be redirecting resources into the weapon call-out operation for Hela Province.
Commissioner for Police, Gari Baki, said despite the fact that the objectivity of the call-out has not been fully achieved, that does not mean the joint forces are not aware of people who are still holding onto illegal weapons.
“Hela will be the first place of polling, there will be a lot of focus on the province during the last leg of the election process.”
Baki told election officials and Hela’s provincial security commanders that it is important for them to know, now that they are progressing into the final parts of the election process, that the objectives of the call-out have not been fully achieved.
Baki was speaking in response to comments made by the Hela Provincial Administrator, if the call out exercise can be conducted alongside the election.
“The answer is no. We cannot redirect our resources again to focus on doing the call-out exercise whilst we are going into elections.”
He added that his position is clear and if any of these incidents happen during the process of the election, the quick response units (QRU) will deal with these people immediately and accordingly.
Baki said he is confident that Hela Province will pave the way for the rest of the country in the 2017 National General Elections.
“Compared to the 2007 election, there were so much talk about failed elections in Hela as well as Southern Highlands but these critics have been proven wrong and the same will have to be repeated in this year’s election.”