Papua New Guinea open to Terrorist Attacks: Juffa

Governor of Northern Province Garry Juffa has expressed concerns over Papua New Guinean's National Security and intelligence capacity after the recent terrorist attacks in France and the attempted attack in Germany on Wednesday where an ambulance filled with bombs was discovered by Police.

Juffa said PNG’s National Security and capacity has significantly contracted over the years in terms of man power, funding, training and development.

“Every time an economy grows and expands; its population grows and expands and thus it increases its national security capacity. But in Papua New Guinea it has been the opposite.

“We have less resources going into that area while the economy and population is growing the threats and opportunities posed by globalisation continue to increases, our intelligence community does not get the resources it needs, it has not developed its capacity and its ability to develop intelligence for decision making,” said Juffa.

Juffa said the people who are attacking these countries are citizens of those countries.

“They are what you call urban terrorists and most countries are aware of their existence and their national security apparatus, their intelligence community and capability are at heightened risk awareness to protect their economy, to protect their people, their infrastructure, their future and lives.”

Intelligence is absolutely vital in protecting an economy, its people, and its future and managing risks.

“The economy and the country is very vulnerable. We do not place enough resources into protecting our national security interest. For instance the National Intelligence organisation, at the turn of independence we had about 120 NIO Officers and we have less than 28 now and yet the population has doubled,” added Juffa.

Juffa stressed that with the 2018 APEC Meeting in the country, the government has not developed security measures as yet which he termed as frightening.

“We are going to have leaders from all over the world and where are we in terms of preparations are concerned? I am yet to see national security statement detailing strategic interest, concerns and views. 

While he said Papua New Guineans are walking around freely, the country is a step away from attacks considering the fact that it shares the border with Indonesia which has the largest Islamic population in the world and Australia is a target for terrorist as the country is involved in sending troops to fight against terrorist groups in the Middle East.

Juffa added that his comments must not be seen as opposition attacking the government but rather of a concerned citizen and a person who has been involved in the national security industry expressing the need for PNG to immediately step up in protecting itself.