'People are being hurt': West New Britain governor speaks out as 12 gunmen killed in Kimbe shootout

Papua New Guinea's West New Britain province governor Sasindran Muthuvel says the public is deeply frustrated with repeated armed robberies and other violent crime.

Sasindran Muthuvel's comment comes after police confirmed the death of 12 men who they say staged an armed robbery at a tradestore in West New Britain's capital Kimbe on Monday.

Muthuvel told RNZ Pacific it was unfortunate that lives were lost, but noted the group fired on police while trying to flee the scene.

The governor said people of the province are frustrated at the surge in activity by criminal groups of so-called 'raskols'.

"A lot of genuine people are being hurt and killed also in these kind of holdups by these raskols because they don't know how to use firearms, or these are homemade guns.

"They just misfire and kill innocent people. We have lost mothers, young people, and all those things in these kind of holdups."

Police Commissioner David Manning said that while attempting to escape police, the armed group's vehicle rolled, resulting in the death of a number of passengers.

He said those not seriously injured in the vehicle roll-over subsequently drew weapons and chose to open fire on police.

"Police standing orders and the law are clear - when a criminal raises a weapon they will be stopped," Manning said in a statement.

"A total of 12 gunmen died in the incident, while one man, believed to be the ringleader of the group, survived and is in police custody."

Muthuvel said it was fortuitous that the Police Mobile Squad were already in the area attending to another incident.

Terrorising innocent communities

According to the governor, some members of the public have themselves attacked armed robbers in recent incidents, a reflection of the frustration in the community over the activities of criminal groups.

He said it was common for these groups to hold up PMVs (public motor vehicles) and rob the passengers.

PMVs are easy to hold up, Muthuvel said, because they frequently have to drive slowly to navigate the many potholes on local roads.

"When [the PMVs] slow down, they held them up. They get all the women to come outside. They remove, steal all their belongings and take their money and all those things.

"Most of the time, they physically abuse them, attack them, and all those things. This is where it's really frustrating for us.

"Many times, innocent people get attacked, businesses get robbed. And this police incident, it so happened that when they escaped, there was another police operation happening in that area, so Mobile Squad was already there."

Authorities cracking down

Muthuvel said he supports a call in parliament this month by Oro Province governor Gary Juffa for criminal groups to be officially categorised as terrorists.

"They're constantly going and terrorising innocent communities, publics, and all these people. So if it is not contained, then it will be a similar situation like what Governor Juffa is encountering in Popondetta."

Meanwhile, PNG's Police Minister John Pundari commended the swift intervention of police in the Kimbe robbery and other incidents.

"l commend those police officers on the front line in West New Britain who have confronted criminals involved in two armed robberies over the past four days.

"This follows an event last Friday when a group of gunmen robbed a PMV near Kimbe, and were confronted by a lone Police Officer. Following an exchange of gunfire, one gunman was killed while the remainder ran away into the bush.

"These incidents demonstrate that police will respond forcefully to remove firearms who elect to use illegal firearms," Pundari said.

"The firearm amnesty provides a clear opportunity for people to surrender illegal firearms without fear of prosecution, and they should take advantage of it."