Australian police may return to PNG

14/03/2008 22:17:27

Australian Federal Police are expected to return to Papua New Guinea, following the prime minister, Kevin Rudd's, successful visit to the country.

Australia's decision to pull out federal police from PNG when immunity from prosecution couldn't be guaranteed inflamed tensions between the two countries.

But in the wake of Kevin Rudd's visit to PNG last week there is now talk of Australian Police returning to duty.

Mr Rudd says a request for Australian police to return to Papua New Guinea has been lodged by the PNG government.

A spokesman for the Australian Federal Police Association, Jim Torr, says there will be no shortage of Australian police officers lining up help.

"I think there's a significant number of them that would relish the challenges and rewards that go with serving in PNG," he said.

"There was a very significant number of over there and as many of these people have worked also in the Solomons, East Timor they would have very realistic expectations.

"I don't doubt that there would be many that would be willing to go back there."

Professor Andrew McIntyre from the Australian National University's Department of Social and Political Change agrees with the assessment and says the decision to send Australian Police back to PNG is the right one.

"We know strengthening law and order is a fundamental requirement for developmental progress so this a good initiative,".

"Law and order in its own doesn't solve all the problems on its own but its a good initiative."

You can find the full story on the Pacific Beat website: http://radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat

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