Prime Minister James Marape has commended Hela Governor Philip Undialu and the people of Hela for progress in surrendering illegal firearms, saying the development shows what can be achieved when government, community leaders and people work together to restore peace and law and order.
Prime Minister Marape in a statement yesterday said the voluntary surrender of high-powered firearms in Hela was an important step in the Marape-Rosso Government’s broader efforts to remove illegal guns from communities, particularly in parts of the Highlands affected by tribal fighting and gun-related violence.
Recent gun surrender activities in Hela have seen dozens of illegal firearms handed over, including high-powered weapons, as communities respond to the Government’s Gun Amnesty Programme.
“I want to commend Governor Philip Undialu for his leadership and the work he is doing in Hela in getting our people to return guns and choose peace,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“I also commend our people and the tribes who have returned their guns. You have made the right decision. Having returned these guns, let us not go back to them. Let us anchor peace in our communities.”
The Prime Minister called on community leaders, churches, councillors, youth leaders and tribal leaders throughout Hela to support Governor Undialu and the Provincial Government’s peace initiatives.
He said the National Government, district administrations and provincial leadership must work together to ensure the surrender of guns becomes the beginning of a better life for people who give up their weapons.
Prime Minister Marape said his Tari-Pori District Development Authority would continue complementing the work of the Hela Provincial Government by connecting people who surrender firearms with opportunities in education, training, small and medium enterprises and other productive activities.
He said particular attention should be given to young people previously involved in tribal fighting and gun-related activities by providing alternative pathways through second-chance education, institutions such as the Hope Institute, skills training and SME opportunities.
“We cannot simply take the guns away and leave our young people with nothing to do,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“We must migrate them from the gun culture into the productive economy — into education, SMEs, agriculture, tourism, employment and other meaningful activities.”
He said people who had been affected by the prevalence of guns in their communities must be given opportunities to become productive citizens, support their families and contribute positively to Hela and Papua New Guinea.
The Prime Minister’s comments follow progress under Hela’s ongoing peace efforts.
In mid-September, 30 high-powered illegal firearms were surrendered and publicly displayed in Tari, while further weapons were subsequently displayed as the surrender programme continued.
Prime Minister Marape said the developments showed growing trust by communities in Governor Undialu’s leadership and the Government’s approach to restoring law and order.
He also called for a proper inventory of people surrendering firearms and the weapons being handed over, allowing authorities to account for the guns and identify people who could be linked to rehabilitation and economic programmes.
“Let us know who has returned these guns, acknowledge their decision and work with them so they can move into productive activities,” he said.
“We want them to get into business, tourism, agriculture and other opportunities that will come as Hela continues to develop.”
Prime Minister Marape said economic opportunities associated with existing and prospective resource developments, agriculture and local supply chains must increasingly benefit ordinary Hela people who choose peaceful and productive lives.
He said Hela’s progress supported the Marape-Rosso Government’s wider focus on confronting illegal firearms, tribal fighting and serious law-and-order problems, particularly in affected Highlands provinces.
Earlier this year, the Government tasked Police Minister Sir John Pundari with driving efforts to remove guns, stop tribal fighting and restore order, particularly in Enga, Hela and Southern Highlands.
The Government has also extended the current Gun Surrender Amnesty to give people still holding illegal firearms further opportunity to surrender their weapons voluntarily.
Prime Minister Marape said lasting peace could not be delivered by police and security forces alone and required communities themselves to reject guns and violence.
“Our Police and Security Forces have a responsibility to enforce the law, but lasting peace starts with our own people deciding that enough is enough,” he said.
“A gun does not educate your child. A gun does not put food on your table. A gun does not build a business, a road, a school or a health facility.”
He said guns had caused too much pain and held back many communities.
“We must replace the gun with education, replace fighting with productive work, and replace fear with opportunity,” he said.
Prime Minister Marape said Hela’s experience should encourage other communities across the Highlands and Papua New Guinea where illegal firearms remained in circulation.
Related news: https://www.thepngsun.com/shp-government-backs-gun-amnesty-drive/
He urged those still holding weapons to use the Government’s surrender programme and hand them over to the appropriate authorities.
“Keep returning the guns to the State through our Provincial, District and Local-Level leadership. Together, we can restore peace, make Hela safer and make our country a better place,” he said.