Namah calls on Police to protect citizens

OPPOSITION Leader Belden Namah says a policeman’s oath is to protect the people of Papua New Guinea and not the Prime Minister.

"I wish to remind the members of the disciplinary forces, and in particular members of the Royal PNG Constabulary, of the significance of the oath they took upon becoming police officers," Mr Namah said in a media conference yesterday.

Mr Namah, flanked by Deputy Opposition Leader Sam Basil, and Rabaul MP Allan Marat, urged the police hierarchy to immediately take control and diffuse what is potentially an explosive situation.

"The oath you took is to uphold the Constitution and serve the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. The Independent State of Papua New Guinea means the people of Papua New Guinea and not the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea or the Opposition Leader or the Commissioner," he reminded members of the police force.

The Police Act 1998 says an officer commits an offence if he or she, while on duty in uniform, smokes in a public place, chews betelnut or acts offensively towards a member of public.