Commentary By Kum Kange
AFTER 48 years of working with Australia, our closest neighbor, our PNGDF has remain stagnant and stereotype. Even though they operate annually on an agreement with our top brass to dictate on what to do, PNGDF has yet to experience full capacity and enjoying the benefits of Military. Question is why are our PNGDF not improved in capacities, infrastructures and personal? PNG by border boundaries acts a buffer to Australia just like the WWII, the Kokoda Battle, the Milne Bay Battle and so forth. Despite that history, we are still stagnant in our PNGDF progress.
The begging question is why are our PNGDF not equipped to remain a Force? Fiji has its military personnel in UN Peace Keeping Forces whilst PNGDF for record sends only few to countries like Sudan in 2016. That was first for PNGDF.
What have PNGDF gained under current Australian Agreement? But interestingly, Aussies have access to our armory, they don’t give full training, they keep to themselves, they dont give equipment, and the current Guardian Class Patrol Boat build in Perth is exposed at the back when out at seas, and even a submachine gun cannot be mounted on it. And yet Aussie wants full immunity in its proposed Military Treaty and the Marape Rosso Government says NO.
Is it because we are a ‘primitive animal’ and that we are being continuously suppressed and not uplifting?
For too long under Aussie, we have been receiving piecemeal military training, they event downsize our men from 4000 to 2000 in 2004 under the so-called Reform. Today our PNGDF is at 4000.
The US DCA is done under Section 206 of the Constitution, Visiting Force Act 1975 is 48 years old. Section 117 of the Constitution talks about Treaty, but this US DCA is not a Treaty, rather an Umbrella Framework with further agreements to be made going forward. This current agreement has a 15-year clause, it can be made redundant if the Prime Minister in 2038 sees that this current Agreement doesn’t work in our favor.
But the current Agreement with US is a step up from Visiting Force Act 1975, it is aimed at building credible infrastructures on Manus Island, that can be controlled and used by our people and PNGDF.
Right now, our seas are not under credible surveillance systems, we have risen in illegal sea faring activities and it’s about time to protect our seas and create a conducive and safe border for credible trade and commerce. A safer country attracts foreign investments.
The agreements call for developing military infrastructure, boosting support for the Papua New Guinea Defense Force and countering illicit transnational maritime activities.
U.S. officials say that Washington is supplying $12.4 million in personal protective equipment to the PNG Defense Force, including ballistic helmets, flak jackets with armor plates, elbow pads, knee pads, and eye protection, to its border patrol and domestically for security operations.
PNG’s foreign affairs secretary, Elias Wohengu, has said the widely publicized defense deal maintains the country’s sovereignty and is in line with its laws. At a press briefing, he told reporters no laws would be changed to enter into the deal.
Secretary Wohengu made the statement amidst rumors of leaked documents regarding the defense cooperation deal that stirred debate and led to questions as to whether such an agreement could undermine national security.
“There’s no immunity for any foreign military personnel that would preside in Papua New Guinea. If a crime is committed, punishment would be carried out. To anyone spreading rumors that we will provide immunity, there is no fact in this agreement that speaks truth to those lies,” said Wohengu.
Since its independence in 1975, Papua New Guinea has signed similar security agreements with Australia and Indonesia. Wohengu stated that the agreement will not prevent it from engaging with other nations in signing future defense cooperation deals.
Separately, the maritime deal, or ship rider agreement, is expected to cover illicit transnational activities at sea.
U.S. officials say the maritime agreement will enable the U.S. Coast Guard to work alongside PNG naval patrols to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing by closing global gaps in enforcement.
The US DCA is timely and essential in boosting our PNGDF capacity and training. Knowledge transfer is critical to maintain a robust force to deal with internal safety and boarder Security.
The much-publicized leaked document to foreign media is only a draft/false document.
The document to be signed today has taken consideration the national sovereignty and no laws of the country is broken.
So, what Dominic Sengi and others are doing is stirring up the issue which is not in the document. It’s misleading and stirs up negative media publicity based on a draft document that is highly distorted and tempered.
The Final document in custody of relevant authorites is nothing like the leaked document.
The Final document has taken all necessary considerations for mutual cooperation and the upholding and respect of PNG’s Sovereignty.
The fact that State Solicitors accepted the Final Document is as good as gold and doesn’t breach our Laws especially the Constitution.
The National Executive Council (NEC) has the powers to approve Agreement and signs on behalf of people, in this US DCA case, it’s a Framework Agreement that falls within the armpit of NEC and so Parliament will only rectify it.
Finally, there is NO IMMUNITY and OUR CONSTITUTION REMAINS SUPREME.
SO LET US START BUILDING OUR PNGDF MILITARY CAPABILITY.
