2 days Ago By pcAdminPNG
Prime Minister James Marape announced last night the deployment of additional police personnel to reinforce the 100-strong Police and PNG Defence Force contingent already stationed in Enga. The deployment aims to address the escalating law and order crisis in the Porgera Valley. He also confirmed that the Cabinet will convene today to deliberate on extending the State-of-Emergency in Porgera.
Despite efforts, the mobilisation of security forces into Porgera has been delayed by landslips along the Wabag-Porgera Road, limiting access to only four-wheel drive vehicles. However, critical reinforcements have successfully navigated the challenging terrain and arrived on the ground. “Cabinet will meet today to finalise and approve the State-of-Emergency extension.
Once confirmed, we will officially announce the implementation of a State-of-Emergency in Porgera,” Mr Marape said. “The decision to declare the State-of-Emergency was delayed due to the road conditions, which hampered the movement of additional security personnel. Despite these challenges, we are moving swiftly to restore order in Porgera.
” Mr Marape reassured the public that over 100 Police and PNGDF personnel are currently stationed in Porgera, with two additional mobile police squads enroute to reinforce efforts. Today’s Cabinet meeting will determine the scope of the SOE in the region. “We have issued strict directives to the police to target and clamp down on those responsible for lawlessness, particularly the illegal possession of firearms, alcohol sales, and other criminal activities.
Porgera is vital to our country, especially with the ongoing operations of the mine,” Mr Marape stressed. He also revealed that Porgera Mine management had been forced to scale down operations, focusing on maintaining critical infrastructure due to safety concerns for their workforce. Approximately 2000 employees reside outside the mine area and have been affected by the instability.
“Normal operations at the mine will resume once we restore full control and security in the area,” assured Mr Marape. He said the latest update was that the situation in Porgera had abated, however, the SOE will be used to clean up the mine area. “This was a tribal fight that involved many illegal settlers in Porgera .
They come in from other areas, settle, and are involved in illegal mining and other illicit acitivies. We will use this moment to clean up Porgera of illegal trespassers. If you are not a Porgeran, but are living there, you need to move out.
Only genuine Porgera people should live there,” Prime Minister Marape said. “Security personnel will carry out roadblocks and check on people moving in and out of Porgera. Only those who work at the mine or are engaged in business will be allowed into Porgera.
“We will use the State-of-Emergency to issue National Identification (NID) to all genuine Porgerans, enforce zero alcohol, ensure no carrying of bush knives or offensive weapons in public, and enforce a curfew from 6pm to 7am.This will be the new way of doing business in Porgera. “We will ringfence the area and start work immediately on resettlement of Porgerans.
We will rebuild the Porgera Police Station.I appreciate Barrick and New Porgera Ltd for their support in mobilising additional resources to complement Government.”.
