Wabag MP, Dr Lino Tom in Parliament this afternoon took the Internal Security Minister, Peter Tsiamalili Jnr to task over the sea of lawlessness in the country.
In a series of questions directed to Minister Tsiamalili during Question Time, Mr. Tom did not mince his words about how risky security and safety is for citizens.
He cited American sanctioned literature reviews which highlighted how the United States Government in 1990s reduced the escalation of lawlessness.
Drawing from the reports, Dr Lino highlighted four factors which helped USA to deliver safe and secure country, and they are:
1. Increased police personnel.
2. Rise in prison population or culprits were arrested, charged and locked behind bars.
3. Waning Crack (Cocaine) Epidemic; and,
4. Abortion legislated to eliminate unwanted pregnancies.
Tom queried why scientific data/intelligences were not used to make informed decisions to improve the status quo on law and order problems with policy interventions as soon as practical, why arrests were not made on perpetrators and sponsors of tribal violence in Enga and elsewhere in PNG even when there are overwhelming evidences, on whether or not the government has lost its power/legitimacy to effect arrests, on whether or not police personnel have lost their powers to make arrests,
why a person who has been inciting and sponsoring youths to disrupt mothers from using the K30 million worth new Wabag Market has not been arrested and charged even though he himself laid a formal complaint against him, whether or not fellow politicians interfering with the minister’s mandated duties, whether or not no arrest made is a reflection of poor performance or compromising of the Internal Security Ministry and why there was no alcohol ban in Enga.
Tom stated that there were two sorts of law for the haves and the have-nots.
In response to the questions, Minister Tsiamalili said PNG was collaborating with the US Government on strenghtening its intelligence capacities and how to align programs and policies based on data to improve lawlessness in the country.
The Minister said arresting perpetrators can only be done based on formal complaints lodged, adding it is an administrative matter, not legislative where it falls under his duties and responsibilities.
On liquor ban, he said PECs were mandated to do that.
Police recruitment has resumed and is ongoing but boosting police manpower cannot be done overnight, he said.
He calls on DDAs to collaborate with police and build its reservist manpower with their law-and-order DSIP components.
Minister Tsiamalili made an undertaking to find out from the Police Commissioner on whether Wabag MP had already submitted a formal complaint or not.
He also urged all fellow MPs to support his Counter-Terrorist Bill which he will table in Parliament tomorrow for passage.