PM CALL FOR SOLDIERS TO CEASE PROTEST, REMOVE ROADBLOCKS AND RETURN TO BARRACKS

PRIME Minister James Marape has called on the Papua New Guinea Defence Force Officers putting up roadblocks at Murray barracks to remove the blockades and move back to their living barracks.

In an audio recording released, the Prime Minister made this call around 10pm last night (Tuesday 14th of April), following a few confirmed PNGDF Soldiers putting up barricades and roadblocks along Murray Barracks on the eve of Tuesday. All other military barracks were reportedly intact and not involve in the act.

“I call at the strongest that all soldiers to stop protesting and return to their barracks, to their post of duties.”

“Stop what you’re doing, move into your living quarters and remove the roadblocks”

The frustrated soldiers pulled up a road blockade to vent their frustration on internal discipline decisions within the force in relation to the PNGDF recruitment.

As Prime Minister and Defence Minister, he made the called to the soldiers to be disciplined and not engaged in mutinous and seditious and ill-discipline activities, and he will not hesitate to go down to the bottom of the issue, soldiers identified will be disciplined.

Prime Minister confirmed that from reliable information, soldiers puting up the roadblock were intoxicated and under the influence of alcohol.

While two separate investigations into the PNG Defence Force Recruitment saga is underway, the Prime Minister has called on the Defence Commander last night to stay the internal investigation process until the bigger holistic investigation that cabinet has sanctioned is completed.

“I have asked the commander to freeze any internal investigation until my investigation from cabinet is complete,” PM said.

He says with the internal investigation process on foot, and will be completed in the next 10days, for now, all PNGDF Soldiers are innocent, and he commended those whistle blowers who have exposed illegal practices at Murray barracks.

However he had labelled their act of recording the interviews conducted during the PNGDF recruitment process as misdemeanour.

Prime Minister said he is building a discipline force to be combat ready and not an ill-discipline defence force.

The said in this time of so much uncertainty, when the country is dealing with fuel prices, natural disasters impact in provinces, the nation cannot afford to have the PNG Defence Force becoming restless.

Meantime, Police have confirmed the situation is under controlled and are out in full force to monitoring the situation.