6 Sep 2014

PNG Govt investigate terrorism allegations

12:52 pm on 6 September 2014

The Papua New Guinea Government says it has set up a team to investigate terrorism allegations involving overseas investors operating within PNG.

The Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has assured Parliament that if allegations are true, those involved will be charged and their business shut down.

He says there are concerns some of the individuals under investigation had links to dangerous groups in the Middle-East, referring to recent activity of the Islamic State and the murder of an American journalist James Foley.

He has assured parliament that there is no evidence of activities that could lead to terrorist incidents on PNG soil, however counter-terrorism systems are being upgraded in response to the countries hosting of events such as the Pacific Games and APEC.

The leader of the Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party, Don Polye, has warned that the Prime Minister's outbursts were childish and could have repercussions on investments, claiming they were based on media propaganda and should have undergone collaborative investigation before being discussed in parliament.