OPPOSITION Leader Joseph Lelang said he was deeply concerned in the rapid increase in lawlessness around the country.
“In the same month of February 2023, we have seen the kidnapping of a New Zealand citizen and university students in the Southern Highlands and Hela Provinces,” Lelang said.
“We have seen the arm robbery of the staff of the Indian High Commission in Port Moresby and we have also seen the gang rape of an American citizen in New Ireland.
All these crimes have portrayed a very negative image of the country to the international community and while this is going on, I am deeply concerned as the Prime Minister continues to take nonstop overseas travel without fully addressing the worsening internal security issues,” the Opposition Leader said.
He said the Prime Minister’s home province in Hela and Tari town have in the recent times witness killings of members of the discipline forces every year than elsewhere in PNG, yet there is an absence of leadership to root out criminals and terrorists.
Mr Lelang said all resources belonging to Police and PNG Defence Force seem to be pumped into Hela province than elsewhere but nothing is happening accept giving negative image to PNG and its citizens.
“For how long can PNG be mocked internationally because of Hela? Where are the leaders of the province?
Papua New Guineans are losing confidence in the Government as it cannot accord the citizens the right and liberty to walk around freely in the country,” Mr Lelang said.
He said this was confirmed when the Indian High Commission openly said “I do not enjoy the freedom to walk around in this country compare to my colleague High Commissioner Joseph Kourni in New Delhi”.
Mr Lelang added that car hijacking, arm robbery, rape, murder, and other serious crimes are on the rise in almost all major towns and provincial capitals.
“And our citizens and even international community are living in fear as crimes are stretching the capacity of the police force.”
He said no one is respecting the laws of this land and they are not even afraid of the Police.
The Opposition Leader also said, the handling of the kidnapping case sets a very bad precedent.
“The escalation of crimes in PNG is a big worry. Everywhere life is a daily struggle, prices of goods and services are increasing almost every month foreign exchange shortages has not been addressed and this Government has no solutions, while citizens now live in complete fear of the increasing lawlessness,” he said.
