By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
Unofficial engagements of PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) in carrying out police duties have resulted in civilians’ deaths in South Fly District in Western Province, Chief of PNGDF Major-General Mark Goina says.
At times residences in Daru sought help from the soldiers who were in Daru for border operations along the PNG-Australian-Indonesian border .They sought help to attend to their complains due to lack of police men in Daru. And these unofficial engagements have led to four deaths so far in separate incidents. These soldiers accused of killing are now before the Courts.
Last November a soldier was involved in a death with three civilians of a Daru residence that sparked the retaliatory ransacking of the Daru military outpost. The deceased had been accused of adultery and the aggrieved husband sought the soldier’s help to have the man arrested.
A fight broke out during the attempted arrest and the man died from his beating. The soldier with three civilians is now before the court.
In May 2021 soldiers beat a contractor to death who had allegedly misused funds that were meant for the construction of a border post at Weam.
In 2019, soldiers’ enroute to Weam severely beat an aggressive drunk after frightened Wipim villagers sought their help in subduing him. The man died after soldiers left the village.
Goina said he has the military investigation reports of all these deaths including the recent death of the civilian who accompanied soldiers last month. But he hasn’t received a report on the killing at Wipim as the killing took place when he was not the Commander.
Meanwhile Goina said to visit Daru any time from now on wards to meet with the public and Government state agencies including leaders in South Fly District to address the struggling public –military relationship .
