ex-combatants as security agents

http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20130612/wehome.htm

Momis bids security firm

By WINTERFORD TOREAS

PRESIDENT of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Dr John Momis is pushing for the establishment of a private security firm to work alongside the Bougainville Police Service in policing law and order in Bougainville.
According to Dr Momis, the private security firm will be made up of former combatants and other Bougainvilleans including men and women who meet the selection criteria. They will undergo security training before being assigned to perform their duties.
President Momis has already made his intention known regarding the formation of this security firm on numerous occasions.
Last week the president again reiterated this idea during the ABG Parliament session in Buka that there is now a plan in place to set up a private security firm.
He said this security firm, which will be a joint venture initiative between the ABG and an Australian company, will be collaborating with the police in maintaining law and order in Bougainville.
Chief Momis said one of the tasks to be carried out by this security firm is to monitor the movement of illegal business operators into Bougainville.
He had also recently revealed that this security firm will also be involved in normal police traffic duties like setting up roadblocks to check the validity of licences of vehicle owners.
Apart from this initiative to set up the security, Chief Momis had also previously revealed his idea of allocating about 30 percent of the ABG’s budgetary allocation to the former combatants to carryout law and order duties in Bougainville.
This announcement was made by the President during the two days Panguna mine negotiation forum which was held in Buin, South Bougainville a few months ago.
Chief Momis had planned to engage the former combatants because he saw that once they are adequately funded and supported, they will be able to carry out their duties in policing law and order in Bougainville.
Meanwhile, the decision by the President to form this security firm has already drawn criticisms from Bougainvilleans.
Many have voiced their concern, saying the President is undermining the work being done by police in Bougainville.
They said instead of establishing this security firm, the ABG should look at equipping police with the resources it needs to perform its duties.
They added that police were not able to effectively do their duties because they are not fully equipped with the necessary resources needed to perform their responsibilities.