PNG Highlands Communities Begin Gun Surrender

PAPUA New Guinea’s illegal firearms amnesty in the Highlands has recorded another voluntary surrender after community leaders in Southern Highlands handed over factory-made guns to police during a public awareness event in Mendi on Wednesday.

The firearms were surrendered by Robert Peandi of Buiyebi One and Dornald Warea of Tutam Village in Lower Mendi. They were accompanied by ward councillors Effo Wami and Pisa Jack during the handover witnessed by police officers and members of the public.

PNG Highlands Communities Begin Gun Surrender/Photo by Police Media

Upper Highlands Special Operations Commander Anthony Wagambie Jr., who officiated at the event, said the surrender was initiated by the community and reflected growing support for efforts to remove illegal weapons from the region.

Mr Wagambie said the handover followed a similar surrender last month in Wabag, where local businessman Lowa Magola handed in a factory-made pistol soon after the firearms amnesty was announced.

“The Upper Highlands Special Operations team was deployed by the Commissioner of Police in response to escalating lawlessness in the region,” Mr Wagambie said.

“The team’s mandate is to enforce the newly enacted Counter-Terrorism Act and support Divisional Commander Joseph Tondop and provincial police commanders, not to take over local policing.”

He warned that under the Counter-Terrorism Act, police have powers to deal not only with people illegally holding firearms, but also those involved in damaging public infrastructure or encouraging criminal activity.

“Our deployment is not intended to harm people. We are here to assist local police to restore law and order and to support the community. Only those with something to hide, or those who have broken the law, need be concerned,” he said.

Mr Wagambie said police were compiling information on suspected firearm holders through community reports and urged people to voluntarily surrender weapons before authorities begin arrests under the amnesty provisions.

“To encourage information-sharing, the team has released a contact number for the public, particularly in Southern Highlands, to report the location of illegal factory-made firearms,” he said.

“Calls and WhatsApp messages can be sent to 71388399. All information will be kept confidential.”

He said the Southern Highlands Provincial Executive Council had endorsed an illegal firearms amnesty awareness campaign last week, adding that future awareness activities would now be led by the provincial administration and local police.