The actions by the National Executive Council to sideline PNGDF Commander, Major General Mark Goina, is described as too soon and serves no purpose.
Speaking as Chairman of the Permanent Parliament Committee- Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Defense, Vanimo Green River MP, Belden Namah said it’s myopic and unsound.
“Why suspend the Commander when there are layers of authority between the training unit and the Commander? The Chief of Training and Deputy Commander should be suspended as well,” said Namah.
Major General Mark Goina was sidelined through an NEC decision announced by Prime Minister James Marape, late last Friday.
Marape said the suspension was for three months and it will allow a General Board of Inquiry into the Kupiano killings to continue.
But Namah said this is all superficial.
“Allow the Commander to get to the bottom of this incident. These soldiers killed and wounded are his soldiers and he owes their families”, Namah said.
Namah said NEC made an ill-decision and urges the Prime Minister and NEC to seek professional advice on such matters.
The last Defense Board of Inquiry conducted by PNGDF was in 2005 and involved a clandestine operation that flew Solomon Islands Attorney General, Julian Moti into Muda Island in Solomon Islands.
Namah said the Strategic Leadership of the force was part of the decision authorizing the use of PNGDF aircraft. Yet the Commander was not suspended. And he cooperated with the inquiry.
Meanwhile a General Board of Inquiry has commenced into the killing of Leading Seaman, Eric Gwale and Corporal Watata Kutegen and the wounding of a soldier and a civilian.
Both soldiers were killed by live ammunitions fired during the final exercise for the Corporal Qualifying Course on 4th July 2023.
Now that Goina is suspended. Deputy Commander, Commodore Phillip Polewara is acting Commander.
Related: https://insidepng.com/nec-sidelines-goina-as-inquiry-continues/
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