Comments on: Uneasy calm in PNG’s Highlands as O’Neill sends in massive force https://asiapacificreport.nz/2018/06/24/uneasy-calm-in-pngs-highlands-as-oneill-sends-in-massive-force/ Independent Asia Pacific news and analysis Sun, 24 Jun 2018 08:29:06 +0000 hourly 1 By: BOUGAINVILLE FREEDOM MOVEMENT https://asiapacificreport.nz/2018/06/24/uneasy-calm-in-pngs-highlands-as-oneill-sends-in-massive-force/#comment-5125 Sun, 24 Jun 2018 08:29:06 +0000 https://asiapacificreport.nz/?p=30104#comment-5125 Reuters 22 June 2018 state: “The Highlands Region has long been the scene of unrest and protests, especially among landowners who have yet to receive payment from the government out of royalties on the $19 billion PNG LNG project, which shipped its first LNG four years ago.”
ABC reports on 23 June 2018: “Papua New Guinea’s Defence Force has deployed 440 troops to stop landowner violence and unrest in the country’s highlands.”
“Brigadier-General Toropo said he had ordered the troops to use that minimal force to contain the violence.

“According to our rules of engagement, we will only use minimum force to contain the situation,” he said.

He deflected comparisons with the Bougainville Crisis, where the deployment of PNGDF soldiers to quell landowner unrest led to a 10-year armed uprising and secessionist movement.”
The landowners are protesting about the non payment of royalties and other grants from the project.
So why are 440 PNG troops getting involved?
Corporate thuggery at its worst.

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