Pacific

PNG MP calls for government action to counter arms build-up

16:41 pm on 16 September 2010

The leader of Papua New Guinea's National Party, Joe Mek Teine, says the arms build-up among highlands communities is alarming and will endanger major projects like the LNG.

In an interview with the Post Courier newspaper, Mr Teine, who is also the MP for Kundiawa, says the government needs to take immediate action as more sophisticated arms are being bought by villagers for self-protection.

Mr Teine says people with guns are already making decisions for the communities and they're prepared to use the weapons to get what they want.

He says people have used bombs to blow up others in tribal fighting and high powered guns to commit crime.

Mr Teine says it is time for the government to revisit the report from the PNG Guns Control Committee and act on its recommendations.