The Commander of the Upper Highlands Special Operations, Anthony Wagambie Jr., officiated at a voluntary handover of factory-made firearms by community leaders from Lower Mendi yesterday (Wednesday, May 27), marking the second such surrender since the government’s illegal firearms amnesty was launched.
The firearms were handed in by Robert Peandi of Buiyebi One and Dornald Warea of Tutam Village, accompanied by ward councillors Effo Wami and Pisa Jack. The event was witnessed by Southern Highlands Police officers and members of the public.
Commander Wagambie, while acknowledging the handover, said it was a community-led initiative and followed a similar act last month by local businessman Lowa Magola, who surrendered a factory-made pistol in Wabag shortly after the amnesty launch.
Speaking on behalf of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, Wagambie described his attendance as a one-off awareness engagement, stating it falls outside his formal duty statement but was undertaken to support the community’s efforts.
“The Upper Highlands Special Operations team was deployed by the Commissioner of Police in response to escalating lawlessness in the region. The team’s mandate is to enforce the newly enacted Counter-Terrorism Act and support Divisional Commander Joseph Tondop and provincial police commanders, not to take over local policing.
“Under the Act, police can target not only those in illegal possession of firearms or involved in the sabotage of vital installations such as roadblocks and power lines, but also those who sponsor, incite, or encourage such acts,” Wagambie said.
“Our deployment is not intended to harm people. We are here to assist local police to restore law and order and to support the community. Only those with something to hide, or those who have broken the law, need be concerned.”
He added that police will enforce the law regardless of whomever is implicated and stressed that everyone must cooperate.
Wagambie urged the public to respect the rule of law and those entrusted to enforce it, including security forces, village courts, district and national courts, councilors, presidents, and community elders.
He noted that the Upper Highlands Special Operations team is compiling a list of suspected firearm holders based on information from the community. He appealed to individuals and groups to surrender weapons voluntarily, warning that police would move to apprehend those who refuse to comply with the amnesty. He also stated that police will work closely with the community and have released a hotline for public tips.
“To encourage information-sharing, the team has released a contact number for the public, particularly in Southern Highlands, to report the location of illegal factory-made firearms. Calls and WhatsApp messages can be sent to 71388399. All information will be kept confidential.
“Change can only happen when people take responsibility. Mendi and Southern Highlands can return to their glory days – and be even better – when the people take ownership of law and order. The first step is removing illegal factory-made guns from the community.”
He noted that the handover had been planned earlier this year but was delayed until now. He also confirmed that the Southern Highlands Provincial Executive Council endorsed an Illegal Guns Amnesty awareness campaign last week.
From now on, Wagambie Jr. said, the Southern Highlands Provincial Administration and Southern Highlands Police will lead further awareness and surrender activities, with his personal involvement limited to this single event.
