500 soldiers deployed to support police in highlands

POLICE officers overseeing security in the highlands region have been asked to conduct their duties professionally and with restraint.
National elections joint task force commander for the Highlands region, Lt-Col Ezekia Wenzel, hopes the PNG Defence Force, through its newly-created civil military coordination centre, national election officers and the media will ensure a safe, fair and good election.
Wenzel said about 500 soldiers would be deployed to provide support to police.
They will be based in Mt Hagen.
Wenzel said due to the high risk environment during elections in the highlands, the region had to be assigned a joint task command.
Mamose, Southern Highlands and New Guinea Islands regions will all come under one joint task command.
PNGDF chief of staff Capt Tom Ur said the media must report with care to give a true and fair picture of what was happening.
He said it was important they reported facts.
The police commanders in the Highlands will be in charge of election operations and the PNGDF joint task command will provide assistance to them.

Source:
The National, Thursday 31st May, 2012