Soldiers beat up Young Man on Christmas Eve

Christmas is the season of joy and peace but for 22 year old Michael Oa, it will not be a peaceful sleep with a bruised back, broken lips and possible broken ribs.
Oa is a latest victim of brutality show by individuals in the Papua New Guinea Defence Force.

Working as a mechanic with RH Limited, young Michael’s employment will be in jeopardy as his physical strength is drained by the injury he incurred. Michael and his 19 year old brother were walking home after his company’s Christmas party along the PNG Power headquarters in Hohola, Port Moresby on Christmas Eve when they were held by 4 soldiers and bashed up.

According to PNGFM Michael and his mother Ann were there at the Port Moresby General Hospital to receive treatment. Michael said his broken lips are from kicks from the soldiers who then used fan-belts to whip his back. The two brothers were then arrested and put in the military cell till the dawn of Christmas and then were released.

Bruises from his back suggest more than 10 leashes of the fan-belt. While awaiting treatment at the hospital, his mother Ann expressed grave concerns that officers in the disciplinary forces must consider the rights of civilian and not abuses their power of being in the force.
Meanwhile, she question what rights soldiers have to beat up civilians and if it was in a soldier’s mandate to inflict such gruesome injury on civilians.
The family has already laid a complaint at the Boroko Police Station and it is now up to the military hierarchy to deal with such brutal officers. PNGFM/ PNG Today