31 Mar 2012

PNG's PM says troops will be deployed to areas of unrest

6:37 am on 31 March 2012

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister says Defence Force soldiers will be deployed in parts of the Hela region and Porgera to assist police curb rising lawlessness in those areas.

Illegal and unlawful behaviour of individuals and groups in Tari and nearby areas have disrupted early works associated with the PNG liquified natural gas project.

On Thursday, hundreds of illegal miners converged on the Porgera mine, attacking workers and damaging equipment there, halting operations at the open pit mine.

In a statement, Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, says it is totally unacceptable that law and order has broken down in those areas.

Mr O'Neill says such behaviour has placed the lives of innocent people at risk, and disrupting work at the LNG project and operations at a mine that is a key contributor to the national economy.

He says the government cannot sit back and allow hooligans in the community to threaten and disrupt normalcy, and place vital economic projects at risk.

Peter O'Neill says no criminal behaviour that threatens the well being of the country will be tolerated.