Minister’s assurance on police role

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33753, 28 January 1975, Page 8

Minister’s assurance on police role

The Government was not insensitive to problems that might arise over the sending of six police instructors to Papua New Guinea, the Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Walding) has said in reply to an editorial in Friday’s issue of “The Press.” “I have noted that you have expressed in your editorial of January 24, about the situation in Papua New Guinea, the fear that the six police instructors sent recently under the Bilateral Aid Programme for two year assignments at the Momana Police Training College in Papua New Guinea might become involved in ah operational role in that country. I recall that a similar editorial appeared in your newspaper of November 21.” “Your readers are entitled to know that the Government was not insensitive to problems that might arise over this project and has firm assurances from the Papua New Guinea authorities on the subject. As it approaches full independence, Papua New Guinea is attaching high priority to expert and training assistance from New Zealand in various fields, including police training. “The New Zealand Police instructors were sent on the clear understanding that they would be required to assist the college in its training

functions and that at all times during their assignments in Papua New Guinea they would have a training role and not an operational role,” he said.

“They are not to become involved in any way in police activities outside the training college. To emphasise their advisory role they will, in the course of their duties, wear plain clothes, and will not be sworn in as members

of the Papua New Guinea constabulary, and will not have promotion rights in that service. All these aspects have been formally agreed with the Papua New Guinea authorities.

“There is thus no possibility that the New Zealand police will become involved in any way in an operational role. We trust that this is reassuring to you and your readers,” said Mr Walding.