Use of drones to fight crime will be tabled in parliament
A proposed bill to be tabled in the coming parliament sitting will legalise the use of drones to combat lawlessness in the country.
Following another bloody massacre in Enga Province on Tuesday, Prime Minister James Marape said, “it has been a long time coming but Cabinet has finally approved a Domestic Terrorism Bill that will be taken to Parliament in the November sitting.
“This bill will give wide-ranging powers to police and those called upon in policing duties, whether from the military or elsewhere, for search and rapid-fire response and the protection of police and all agencies of State who are participating in law enforcement.
“It will also necessitate the use of drones and available technology to prevent and contain lawlessness and prosecute those who harbour lawbreakers or participate in breaking the law.”
Unmanned aerial vehicle [UAV], commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board.
According to the Australian Army, UAVs provide intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance support for land force operations.
After a brief with heads of the law enforcement agencies and concerned state ministers on Wednesday, Prime Minister Marape had directed for the State of Emergency be extended along the Highlands Highway to Laiagam District, covering also Kompiam, Porgera, and Wabag districts in Enga Province.
“We are extending the State of Emergency, and I have directed that Police and Defence Force make arrests, instead of acting as mediators in these tribal conflicts,” Mr Marape said.
He further stated that the recent massacre at Surinki in Laiagam District was a tribal conflict revenge.
“I want to appeal to our people who turn to guns for revenge in resolving disputes; breaking the law does not justify the action for the wrong already committed,” PM Marape said.
The Prime Minister added that Government is also considering outlawing compensation based on consultations and discussions it has been having, including increasing sentencing penalties to the maximum and life imprisonment for initiators of tribal conflicts.
“We want to hold those responsible in tribal fights accountable for these acts of violence, just as those who are killing people.
“If you cause a tribal fight, you will be held responsible, and we are looking at increasing the maximum penalty, even life imprisonment, for those who initiate these fights. From a small incident, tribal fights suck in the community and become massive socio-economic problems for our communities. The two principal initiators of the tribal conflict will be held to account.”
PM Marape also indicated that Parliament might be called upon to pass the SOE for the highlands provinces that continue to experience higher incidents of lawlessness, adding that instructions have gone out to Treasury to resource the enforcing agencies to better maintain Law and Order in the provinces and NCD.