by Stanley Ove Jr – EM TV, Port Moresby
Officers from the Mining Asset Protection Division are now raising concerns of the tactics used by illegal miners.
They say they are being attacked by illegal miners who are converging in large groups, illegally entering the mine pits and stock pile areas, to steal gold.
Yesterday, 56 illegal miners were arrested by the new Force Support Battalion. Out of the 56, one was a woman.
They were arrested at the Kumbipara area of the Pogera Valley, in Enga Province.
The Force Support Battalion is part of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary joint special operations. It consists of mainly Defense personals that have trained with Police to handle civil disputes and conflicts.
According to Senior Inspector, Ewai Segi, of the Paiam Police station in Pogera, this trend will not stop because it’s a widespread issue in the province.
Moreover the Battalion is now tasked to cut down on this issue in the coming months.
The 56 were brought to the Paiam Police station and were charged and will appear in court later in the week.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=8fhFzashKiE%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
