PNGDF recruitment and regional balance scrutinized

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, August 14, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

MEMBER for South Fly, Aide Ganasi, raised serious concerns regarding the recruitment process and regional balance of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force.

The Member and former soldier questioned Defence Minister, Fabian Pok on the process of recruitment which he said were largely centered around urban centers in the country.

Ganasi said the reputation of the PNG soldier as one of the best jungle fighters was being reduced as more urban recruitment was taking place, as opposed to rural recruitment being done under the former colonial recruitment exercises.

“I want to know the criteria the defense force uses in recruiting? I find that there is the same method the defense uses to recruit in the major centers only.”

“That is not fair to the rural provinces and districts. You will see that people who have grown up in urban areas are in the force.”

“I will tell you that before the Papua New Guinean infantry soldier is one of the best jungle fighter. Now that name is no longer around with PIR (Pacific Islands Regiment),” Ganasi said.

Ganasi also alleged domination of a region in the defence force, without naming- stating that it would be a security risk if it was the case.

“Top echelon (rank) commissioned soldiers of the defence force- we must not allow that one region dominates it. There must be a stocktake on that, especially the officer corps, commissioned rank of defence must have for each province fairly represented because it is a security risk,” he said.

“So I want the minster to let us know what criteriais being used to recruit infantry soldiers and top echelon to commissioned officers.”

In response, Defence Minister Fabian Pok, admitted the recruitment process countrywide was hindered due to funding constraints.

“Recruitment goes to the four regions of the country because of funding problems we cannot go to the rest of the country,” Minister Pok said.

“But I will bring it to the commander and the people of recruiting to go to the provinces. It is a good question we will try and look at ways to improve recruiting by going to rural areas and go to provinces.”

“It is something I will take on board.”

He, however, refuted the claim by Ganasi of regional biasness in the military, stating that it was in existence in the force.

“Yes there is total regional balance in the defence force. When you look at the colonels, are from different parts of Papua New Guinea.”

“There is one Highlands promoted, one Manus, one Central, one Popondetta- people of Papua New Guinea who have the caliber to be colonels have been made colonels.”

“It is not like before when they came from one region or one province, now we have regional balance of officers,” the minister explained.

He called on those concerned to visit the officers’ training at the Defence Academy in Lae, to find out the origins of each officers to support his statement.

“We make sure that the colonels are regionally balanced, lieutenant colonels are regionally balanced- so if you go to Murray Barrack now we can give a list of all the colonels and where they come from and you will know that they are regionally balanced.”