The National, Thursday 29th March 2012

A CALL-OUT order has been effected for PNG Defence Force troops to be deployed at LNG project sites in Southern Highlands. The National Executive Council gave the approval last night. The soldiers would assist police restore law and order in the province. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill had indicated earlier that a state-of-emergency would be imposed in Southern Highlands but that had been downgraded to a call-out after receiving advice from the National Security Advisory Committee.

O’Neill had said there were serious law and order issues in the province that needed to be addressed immediately and indicated declaring a state-of-emergency.
But government sources said last night that cabinet had settled for a troops’ call-out instead.

It is understood that the decision to downgrade came after landowner leaders advised government that the people would remove the blockade at the Hides 4 conditioning plant and allow work to go ahead.

Hides 4 landowners yesterday called a media conference to announce their decision for work to resume at the conditioning plant and surrounding areas. However, the meeting was cancelled following arguments among certain factions. O’Neill is expected to announce details of the call-out orders today.