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Namah: Goina’s Suspension is Ill-decision

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Namah

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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NEC Sidelines Goina as Inquiry Continues

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NEC Sidelines Goina

Chief of PNGDF, Major General, Mark Goina is now suspended and Deputy Commander, Commodore Phillip Polewara is now Acting PNGDF Commander.

Prime Minister James Marape as Chairman of the National Executive Council said the NEC decision will allow the General Board of Inquiry into the killing of two PNGDF members, the wounding of a soldier and a civilian to continue.

Prime Minister James Marape [Supplied Image]

“Therefore to affirm the integrity of the GBOI, and also the dignity of the Commander, NEC took a decision to suspend the Commander under Section 6 (3) (b) of the Defense Act 1974 for three months, or until such time the GBOI delivers its findings,”said Marape.

Goina’s suspenssion today follows a brief report to cabinet by Defense Minister, Win Barki Daki on the shooting death of Leading Seaman, Eric Gwale and Corporal Watata Kutegen on 4th July 2023 at Kupiano.

The two were part of 40 soldiers who underwent training for the Corporal Qualifying Course but were killed on the final exercise.

NEC sidelines Goina
The two soldiers who were killed early last month.
NEC Sidelines Goina

Initial PNGDF investigations into their killings revealed that they were shot by high velocity ammunitions fired from within 40 meters.

Three soldiers were identified and one has confused to firing the live ammunitions because he had it in his possession.

The Terms of Reference for GBOI covers the shooting incident and expands into any contributing factors which may have led to arms contamination in a training situation.

“As a government we owe it to our men and women of the Defense Force, and especially those who died or were wounded and their loved ones, to find out what went wrong, and how do we fix this wrong. We therefore welcome the General Board of Inquiry that was set up by the Defense Minister,” said Marape

The GBOI is a legal process that will run independently and deliver its findings.

The government will pick up on the recommendations from the GBOI and will address all the issues that come out of the findings.

Related: https://insidepng.com/two-pngdf-soldiers-killed-during-training-exercise-in-kupiano/

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Two PNGDF soldiers killed during training exercise at Kupiano

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Two Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF) soldiers are confirmed dead while another was rushed to Port Moresby General Hospital with gunshot wounds after being shot during the final exercise of a Corporal Qualifying Course.

A fourth person sustaining gunshot wounds as well, is a civilian. He is also admitted at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

The Ministry of Defence in a statement confirmed this, adding that police and the defence force have commenced investigations into the incident.

The Ministry has confirmed that the incident took place in Kupiano, Central Province at 4am, this morning.

The training at Kupiano was the final phase of the Corporal Qualifying Course the soldiers have been undergoing at the Goldie River Training Depot.

Minister for Defence, Win Bakri Daki receiving the bodies of the two PNGDF personnel.

Defence Minister, Win Bakri Daki said the PNGDF is ensuring that it continues to provide the duty of care to the families of the deceased and wounded members during this time.

“As the Minister responsible for Defence, I convey my sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased members, and also my assurances to those who were wounded that their recovery will have our priority of support.”

The Chief of Defence Force will host a media briefing tomorrow to provide more details of the incident.

InsidePNG will bring more updates as the story develops.

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