Prime Minister, James Marape this week announced a full-scale national crackdown on illegal firearms, confirming that Operation Kumul 23 will continue across the Highlands and other hotspot areas until guns are removed from communities and law and order is restored.
Speaking following recent security operations in Wapenamanda, Enga, Prime Minister Marape said Government will not retreat in the face of armed criminal groups who are terrorizing communities with high-powered weapons.
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“The work of Kumul 23 will not be stopped,” Prime Minister Marape said. “The type of operation you saw in Wapenamanda — where our security forces precisely extracted a hired gunman — is the kind of work that will continue.”
The Prime Minister said Wapenamanda, once a peaceful district, had been devastated by the spread of illegal firearms, many of which were financed and supplied by criminal networks operating outside the affected communities.
“Most of these guns were paid for by people outside the communities and handed to young men to cause fear and chaos,” he said. “This is destroying families, villages and the future of our people.”
Prime Minister Marape announced that Cabinet will introduce a national gun amnesty and buy-back scheme, giving individuals holding illegal firearms a final opportunity to surrender their weapons.
“We will call an amnesty period for all illegal guns to be returned,” he said. “We will also consider a buy-back scheme so that guns can be taken out of circulation.”
He warned that a clear cut-off date will apply.
“After the amnesty period, if anyone is still holding a gun, we will hunt them down. The law will take its full course.”
The Prime Minister confirmed that the recent Wapenamanda operation represented only part of the planned security response.
“What you saw in Wapenamanda was not the full deployment of Kumul 23. This operation will continue and expand into all hotspots across the country.”
He said Government was determined to end the gun culture that has taken hold in parts of Enga, Hela, Southern Highlands and Western Highlands, as well as other areas.
“Only the State must carry guns — not criminals,” Prime Minister Marape said.
Prime Minister Marape said Police Minister Sir John Pundari has been given clear instructions to focus entirely on restoring law and order.
“I have told the Minister to remove politics from this work and to focus on policing,” he said. “Removing guns, stopping lawlessness in Enga, stabilizing Hela and the Southern Highlands, and securing Port Moresby and Lae are now the top priorities.”
The Prime Minister also confirmed that police and defense personnel will be legally protected while carrying out operations.
“My police and my defense force will be protected. If anyone has an issue, they can take it up with the State.”
Prime Minister Marape said he and Sir John Pundari will convene a meeting of four Highlands governors — Enga, Hela, Southern Highlands and Western Highlands — to address gun trafficking networks and coordinate a regional response.
“This goes beyond just police operations,” he said. “It involves village courts, land mediators, community peace officers, intelligence services and defense support. This is a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort.”
Prime Minister Marape said restoring law and order is central to Papua New Guinea’s Reset@50 national agenda.
“As we move into our next 50 years as a nation, guns must not rule our country,” he said. “The rule of law must prevail. The gun must belong only to the State — not to criminals.”