Gun-running in Papua New Guinea: From Arrows to Assault Weapons in the Southern Highlands (original) (raw)

The use of illegal guns: security implications for Papua New Guinea

2005

JERRY SINGIROK The use of illegal guns in Papua New Guinea is of growing concern, with broad ranging social and economic impacts. In the following paper, Major General Jerry Singirok explores the dimensions of illegal gun use in Papua New Guinea, examining patterns of gun use, sources of guns and firearms administration and control. Drawing upon a variety of sources, including personal experience, Singirok calls for a collaborative approach to gun control between state and society.

Gun Violence, Crime and Politics in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea

Community Interviews and a Guide to Small Arms in PNG, 2005

In 2003-2004, the Small Arms Survey completed a series of research projects across 20 nations of the southwest Pacific. One of these, a survey of the proliferation of small arms and firearm-related violence in the strife-torn Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea (Alpers, 2005), relies on a range of background information, field interviews from 19 communities, weapon descriptions and summaries of supplementary material which are not included in the published work. For the benefit of governments, donors, development agencies, NGOs and others with a stake in curbing the proliferation of small arms in Papua New Guinea, this additional information is provided here. This paper provides background information for, and should be read as a supplement to: Alpers, Philip. 2005. Gun-running in Papua New Guinea: From Arrows to Assault Weapons in the Southern Highlands. Special Report No. 5. Geneva: Small Arms Survey, June.

Illicit Small Arms in the Pacific

With the exception of Papua New Guinea, the number of illicit small arms likely to be in circulation in Western Pacific island countries is not particularly large or widespread. The region remains relatively ‘gun free’ as Philip Alpers’ recently proclaimed. Supply is not bountiful, controls in the form of regional and national laws are sound, disarmament and amnesties have been somewhat successful, and demand is neither strong nor state or region-wide—Papua New Guinea being the exception. In broader context, the Pacific Institute for Public Policy points out that: The Pacific has seen its share of coups and conflict, but deserves recognition for being a largely peaceful region … It also has a wealth of traditional mechanisms to end conflict … It is worth bearing this in mind as the region develops a more ‘bottom-up’ approach to contemporary security issues. The project conducted a strategic assessment, rather than a detailed stocktake, of the illicit small arms in the Western Pacific island region with a focus on Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea (excluding Bougainville). As anticipated, most of the illicit small arms in the region come from within the countries studied and are largely recirculated within them. However, there are pockets where weapons transgress borders, but this is not particularly organised or substantial. There are also trends with new weapons entering the region, but these are mostly imported by or with the knowledge or approval of the national governments. That makes illicit small arms in the Western Pacific island countries less of a transnational problem and more one for national governments. There are also five additional region-wide trends linked clearly and potentially to small arms proliferation. They were outside the scope of this project, but are worth bringing to attention and they are discussed briefly in this report. International organisations and national non-government organisations (NGOs) have been at the forefront of activism and information on small arms in the Pacific. Yet after more than a decade, the Nadi Framework and Goroka Gun Summit, both grand initiatives, remain largely dormant. In part, this reflects the reality that many illicit small arms—firearms essentially—are sourced from inside the country in which they are used, and recycled multiple times within it, and that the security sector has been, or remains, both a source of supply and driver of demand. This is particularly so for the Royal Papua New Guinea constabulary. The problems with illicit small arms in the Western Pacific are indicative of societal and governance problems and should not be seen as an isolated phenomenon. As such, this report cautions against any isolated firearms ‘fetish’ responses, or for the issues raised to be seen solely as ‘a gun problem’. As Wondemaghen noted, fears generated by media stories of armed violence ‘generates a temptation to reach for simple, often punitive solutions to multi-faceted complex problems’. As such, this report makes suggestions regarding illicit small arms control and broader, societal factors that may mitigate demand in the three focus countries. The research indicates tangible factors are a strong driver of demand and that the ‘motives and means’ hypothesis holds true. Small arms, mostly firearms, are sourced for personal or property protection, to participate in tribal fighting, to perpetrate crime, to coerce and influence political activities, but not to create state-wide conflict or coup against an extant government. In parts of Papua New Guinea there appears to be a constant overt demand for firearms, for both the tangible reasons listed above, as well as the more intangible predilection towards wanting firearms for the status they bestow on the user. However, this avenue of research could not be confirmed in this project. Conclusions that can be drawn from the research are that the hallmarks of the region are overt demand and supply in Papua New Guinea, reduced and low demand in Solomon Islands and Fiji, and internal supply, including the skills to build home-made firearms. Finally, the relationship between the civilian legal market of sporting and recreational shooters and the illicit market is emotionally potent. Globally and regionally, civilian stocks are leaked onto the illicit market. However, the position of this paper is that the Pacific sporting shooters are an informed and engaged stakeholder in small arms control, and that in many cases ‘providing a path to legal firearms possession’, including its safe storage and use, can be one element of effective small arms control.

The Emerging of A New Trend of Warfare In Enga Province of Papua New Guinea

2021

This study examines the development of a frightening new trend of warfare in Enga Province. From politically instigated warfare to hired gunmen and the use of modern factory-made weapons, all contributing to mass destruction of the communities endangering the lives of the people. This new trend of warfare, unlike that of the traditional warfare of bows and arrows is posing greater danger to the people and society. Through the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data, the study examines the causes and effects of tribal warfare, and then suggests ways and methods to deal with the issue. The findings revealed that there is widespread warfare in the Enga Province with the use of home-made guns as well as modern factory-made guns, and that hired gunmen are often involved. It was revealed that this modern warfare is caused by a broad range of factors including politics, conflicts over animals, household properties, land issues, verbal and physical assaults, rape and murder cases, as well as election-related problems. It also revealed that there are adverse effects people face in coping with the loss of goods and properties of significant value, as well as of human lives, such as psychological trauma, caused by the warfare experience. To best understand the phenomena, it is important to study the social make-up of the people well, as the root causes of these man-made phenomena start at the clan base. Also important is to assess and analyse whether the leaders, from the local level up to the national level have done enough to contain tribal fighting (or not), and make suggestions so that these insights can be used to bring peace to this war-torn province. Keywords: Tribal Warfare, Leadership challenges, High-powered guns, Hired gunmen, Community sustainability

Small Arms and Light Weapons - an Issue in Guinea-Bissau?

This article shows, through some hypothesis, the way SALW interact with other security issues and with the different realms of social and political life. The presence of SALW may seriously hinder any effort to reform the security sector, including arms management and disarmament programmes, and should not be dissociated from other security concerns.

Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition - Criminal Group Surrender in Papua New Guinea

Oceania, 1995

While PNG's raskol gangs attract increasing scholarly interest, much of this has been directed at entry to raskolism. This article specifically addresses exit from raskolism via the mass surrender. The rise and fall of raskolism are linked through the perennial quest for resources and prestige underlying both strategies. The mass surrender provides a spectacular illustration of how crime generates new opportunity structures beyond crime itself. It also illustrates the continuing importance of brokering parties in negotiations between local groups and national authorities.