By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea’s policemen and women around the country have been ordered to arrest and charge anyone in possession of illegal firearms — which carries life imprisonment under the amended law — from the May 19 deadline.
Police Commissioner David Manning, who is also the Registrar of Firearms, said that the directives were now being enforced.
Manning is urging all police officers around the country to enforce the law and implement the Firearms Amendment Act 2022 that was tabled and supported by all members of the 10th National Parliament recently.
“I gave a two-week amnesty period for people to come forward and surrender their firearms to the nearest police station,” he said.
“I am now appealing to anyone who has any information about the existence of any such illegal firearms to please come forward and assist your police force to remove these individuals and firearms from our communities.”
Papua New Guinea faces a general election starting in late July and security is an issue.
Miriam Zarriga is a PNG Post-Courier reporter. Republished with permission.
This content originally appeared on Asia Pacific Report and was authored by APR editor.
APR editor | Radio Free (2022-05-12T21:05:11+00:00) PNG police order crackdown on illegal firearms as deadline looms. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2022/05/12/png-police-order-crackdown-on-illegal-firearms-as-deadline-looms/
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