The official launching of the Hela call-out security operation took place yesterday in Tari town.
The key message in the call-out is of surrendering illegal firearms whilst working together with security forces to restore law and order, and retaining peace in the province.
During the amnesty period, those that are in possession of illegal firearms are encouraged to surrender their weapons to the security personnel on operation, as there will be no arrests and charges laid against them.
After the 28th of February, those that are still in possession of illegal firearms will face the enforcement of the firearms act.
The call-out has three phases to it. The first is the call-out security operation where Police and Defence Force will be conducting special operations during the amnesty period, while other civilian Government agencies will also be contributing in other essential services.
The second phase will be the regulatory reforms of the firearms act that will proceed after February 28. Any person in possession of illegal firearms will be arrested, charged and locked up.
Third phase is the governance aspects of restoring normal governance systems, which will help Hela Province address security and law and order issues, including the security of the LNG and other provincial governance issues.
Hela is a new province that has challenging law and order problems propagated by the proliferation of illegal firearms, tribal fights, landowner and other provincial issues.