PNG post mail

An illegal army in full military gear and arms is being raised in Hela, one of Papua New Guinea’s most problematic provinces as the country faces general elections next month.

Reports from Hela indicate that the illegal force would take over the polls which are due to start on July 4.

PNG security forces in Hela – made up of army, police and corrections – are on high alert after discovering military fatigues brought in by a chartered plane, and are monitoring the situation.

PNG Defense Force uniforms were airlifted on a chartered flight to Hela from Port Moresby.

The uniforms, packed in boxes, were confiscated by soldiers on electoral service in Hela.

“I call on the police, the leaders and the PNGDF hierarchy to come out and tell us why these people who are close to the leaders of the day are in army uniform, all of them,” said regional candidate Hela Francis Potape, referring to a photo of several men in military fatigues.

“This photo was taken on the morning of June 18 and in the afternoon the chartered flight was confiscated along with army uniforms, among other things.”

Uniforms issued by PNGDF
Potape said the confiscated uniforms were not uniforms purchased by Lot 60, but uniforms issued by PNGDF.

“We know that the PNGDF soldiers in Angore intercepted the charter and confiscated the uniforms, we also know that the officer in charge in Para was interrogated and could not tell the truth.

“PNDF, how can we allow police or PNGDF uniforms to be in the hands of criminals?

“These uniforms are garments worn by those who sign and take an oath to protect every citizen of this country, the nation and our leaders. Ordinary citizens cannot wear these uniforms.

“What is happening?” Potap asked.

The Peoples United Assembly (PUA) – a group formed by the late Anderson Agiru, has called on the police to thoroughly investigate several charters paid for in cash, one of which was taken with army uniforms on 18 June.

“Paul Mulapigo released a statement saying he chartered this plane, Paul Mulapigo did not charter the flight – that’s not what we know. The police and Hela leaders need to come out and tell the truth because we know that three charters for security equipment, election race and kits were in Hela,” said PUA Chairman Raymond Kuai.

“If the PNG Electoral Commission doesn’t know, who knows?”

Flight charter, but “no uniforms”
The Post mail reported on June 20 that a Paul Malapi confirmed he chartered the flight but never moved any police or military uniforms.

“I am a Pangu Pati supporter and have never moved police uniforms from PNGDF uniforms to Komo on the flights I have chartered,” Malapi said.

Deputy Police Commissioner Samson Kua said at the time that police confiscated a blue field uniform, three police number one long pants with boots as well as a set of PNGDF camouflage uniforms, a shirt and shorts.

Police and PNGDF sources in Hela confirmed the incident and that investigations were continuing.

Potape, who is running under the ticket of the National People’s Congress party, claimed that fake ballot boxes and papers had also been smuggled into the province and that all the candidates were concerned about it.

“I heard someone had already brought ballot boxes and extra papers into the province,” he said.

“As I speak, the papers and boxes are already in Hela – such a practice was practiced in the 2017 elections.”

Ready for a legal election
Raymond Kuai, a lawyer, said: “This photo was taken on Saturday morning and in the afternoon the cargo from the chartered plane was seized.

“Hela is ready to go to the polls to elect their leaders in a legal way, why are we engaging in such activities? That’s why I call on the police to intervene and investigate, otherwise we will have failed elections or no elections in Hela.

The development in Hela comes as the PNGEC released election dates which begin on July 4, with Hela joining Mamose, the Islands and Southern Regions, followed by the other Highland provinces a few days later.

This scenario is likely to add to the destabilization of the already fragile region.

Hela has been a hotspot with a proliferation of high-powered firearms over the past two decades, which have been used in tribal combat and in clashes with security forces.

Republished with permission from PNG Post-Courier.