A former Papua New Guinea military commander says the solution to the country's gun problem is to empower the community.
Major General Jerry Singirok Photo: AFP
PNG is again pondering what to do about illegal weapons in the wake of unprecedented violence during and after the recent election.
Major general Jerry Singirok said the first stop had to be the United Nations sanctioned Gun Report he helped compile 12 years ago.
The report, which included dozens of recommendations, has never been tabled in parliament.
Mr Singirok said this should be the first move because all the factors that applied in 2005 were still relevant.
He also said communities would embrace mobilisation programmes to remove weapons because they were sick of guns and the trouble they brought.
"Many communities are fed up with guns but they just need to be empowered," he said.
"From there you start to pacify areas that are willing to address the issue."
