14 Fiji Security Personnel told to leave PNG

It is disappointing that 14 Fiji security personnel who had valid six months visas and were awaiting the processing of their work permits, were accused of being mercenaries and told to leave PNG.

These are the sentiments of Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola as representatives of the 14 men visited him and expressed their appreciation to the government for securing their safe passage back to Fiji.

The 14 men were recruited by the Allied Gold Mine for the Sembri Gold Mine in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea=s northern island province of New Ireland as Security Consultants on the first week of January 2010.

The Ministry said their work contract was merely on capacity building specifically for the purpose of up skilling local security personnel in the protection of mines without the use of firearms.

The Ministry strongly denies the accusation that they are mercenaries as was claimed by the PNG media adding they are professional security men who were temporarily in PNG on an advisory support role to the company=s mines.

It was believed that various State administrative officers in PNG had attempted to remove these men under unlawful coercion which is in gross violation of the rights guaranteed to all people under Section 42 of the PNG Constitution.

The issue is before the courts in PNG and the 14 security personnel have since returned to Fiji.