Transcript
Former army commander Jerry Singirok says successive governments have failed to act on a 2005 report he was responsible for compiling, which made 244 recommendations on controlling guns. He says gun violence has gone from bad to worse since then.
JERRY SINGIROK: "Everyday there's somebody being shot, robbed or harassed, intimidated by use of guns, illegal guns or state issued guns by members of the police force."
The retired major general says he is calling on politicians to act now because of concern about the security of citizens who will be going to the polls next year.
JERRY SINGIROK: "Many people are going to be voting under duress or will not vote for fear of intimidation, of being shot at, or a lot of places people will just refuse to go and vote because of the presence of illegal guns, simple as that."
Major General Singirok says politicians are aware of the threat that guns pose, but lack the political will to clamp down on them. coalition against Gun Violence spokesman John Toguata, who worked with him on the report, agrees. He says PNG's political leaders may be motivated by self-interest on the issue.
JOHN TOGUATA: "The reason why they are very reluctant about it is because they have guns in their possession. Either they possess them or they are protected by people with guns in their possession and they don't want to give it up."
John Toguata says politicians are also trying to preserve their popularity with supporters.
JOHN TOGUATA: "In the Highlands there are people who are armed to the teeth out there in the clans, and they are now fighting a modern tribal fighting with guns, not with bows and arrows anymore. So by surrendering the weapons that's the risk that people face. And I guess it's also something to do with leaders protecting their popularity, because if they do that they obviously will not be popular."
Former deputy Prime Minister Sam Abal agrees action needs to be taken on gun control. But he says state imposed controls often don't work well in rural areas, and leaders should take steps at a local level. He says he had his own policy as an MP in the Highlands.
SAM ABAL: "Get rid of the guns and let's hold on to the shovel, the farming implement, and turn back to the land. Get the people engaged, the young generation, back to the land making use of agriculture."
Major General Singirok is also urging the Police Commissioner to strengthen the registering, issuing and management of guns, and for the police to clamp down on their illegal use. John Toguata, who is a former police commander, says gun control enforcement by the police force remains poor, and it has no clear plan for curbing gun violence.
JOHN TOGUATA: "Guns that have been repossessed or are under investigation they go being used again and then they come back in to the police, so there is a whole issue about the breakdown of enforcement. And there is no real plan or strategic approach to addressing the gun issue in the country."
Sam Abal says some people may see the threat of guns as a way of securing votes in the upcoming election. But he says the government needs to find longer term solutions that will steer young people away from gun violence.
