By GINNAH MINI
ORO Governor Hon. Gary Juffa has questioned the Minister for Justice and Attorney General over a submission seeking to have criminal organisations operating across Papua New Guinea (PNG) declared terrorist organisations.
Raising the question in Parliament yesterday, Governor Juffa said the submission was made in response to criminal groups targeting public infrastructure and disrupting government services.
“In my province, they have engaged in brutal violent crimes, killings, injuring innocent people, and disrupting health and education services,” Governor Juffa said.
“These criminal organisations—we are submitting that they be declared terrorist organisations because that is essentially what they are doing.
“They are deliberately disrupting government services and preventing children from accessing these services. Our women and elderly people are innocent citizens.”
He noted that the Minister for Police has informed the Parliament that submissions have been sent to the Justice Ministry for verification before it goes to National Executive Council (NEC).
The Governor asked the Minister to update the Parliament of the progress of the submission so that the criminals can be dealt with.
In his response, Minister for Justice and Attorney General Hon. Pila Niningi acknowledged that the Minister for Police has initiated that submission, while noting that his department and the state solicitor are reviewing it before bringing the submission to NEC.
“This is a serious offence, we will take it seriously. Therefore, the constitutional questions are need to be looked at. If it means to amend a certain provision in the constitution, we shall do so and come to the Parliament for amendments,” Minister Niningi said.
Minister Ninigi said that this is a serious matter and the State Solicitor will review the submission thoroughly and will soon be brought to the parliament and NEC.