30 September 2019

Papua New Guinea's Police Minister says the constabulary aims to better equip officers with non-lethal techniques when faced with hostile crowds.

Bryan Kramer's comment follows reports from Enga province of a deadly confrontation between police and illegal miners at the Porgera gold mine.

Community groups in Porgera claim four local men were shot dead by police personnel providing security for Barrick Gold's joint venture mining operations.

Speaking before he had been fully briefed on the incident, Mr Kramer admitted that over time police had resorted to certain practices, including use of gunfire, to respond to large, lawless crowds.

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