Parliament passes legislation banning firearms

By Sam Vulum

Papua New Guinea has made some serious headway in its struggle against its chronic crime problem with the passage of legislation in parlia ment to ban firearms in the country.

This was the first of any direct attack on the problem and a major shift away from the tradidtional emphasis by succes sive governments, which was always on the long-term view of job creation for unemployed youths.

Police Minister Castan Maibawa pre sented the legislation in the form of amendments to the Firearms Act on November 13 amid widespread concerns

expressed over the use of firearms in criminal activities in recent months.

Under the amendments, passed on 61 to nine votes, a three-year amnesty, which will expire on October 1, 1999, has been given to all firearms owners, both legal and illegal, to hand in their weapons to the police.

Maibawa said compensation would be paid to legal owners while illegal owners would not be expected to provide their names or personal details.

The amendments also provide for the following: • That police to use necessary force to search people and residences without

warrants to recover weapons and arrest suspects after the amnesty period. • That those found guilty of possession of firearms will be fined K5OOO (SUS37OO) or imprisoned for five years. • That illegal arms dealers will be fined double or be sentenced to 10 years while manufacturers and anyone who attempts, conspires and aids a manufacturer be imprisoned for five years. • That warehouses, garages, houses and enclosed yards in which illegal arms are manufactured together wtith ships, aircraft and vehicles which transport arms, be forfeited to the state. ■