Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Reuters NewMedia - December 14, 2004
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) report on PNG warned that the struggling nation of 5.5 million people could disintegrate into a series of lawless and unviable mini states unless something was done to reverse its decline.
The report was released as Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer led a delegation of key ministers to PNG for annual bilateral talks.
Australia provides about A$300 million ($227 million) in annual aid to PNG, and has recently begun a five-year A$800 million program to help it restore law and order and improve governance.
More than 200 Australian police will be on the beat in PNG when the program is fully operational next year, with a further 64 Australian advisers to be placed in key law, justice and government financial agencies.
The ASPI report said Australia had given its former colony more than A$15 billion in aid since PNG achieved independence in 1975, but more needed to be done to help the country achieve security and a sense of nationhood.
It said weak immigration and policing in PNG made it a prime target for crime groups.
"Drug production and smuggling, people smuggling and trafficking, gun trafficking and money laundering are all serious problems in our region already," the ASPI report said.
"Government weakness in PNG is allowing these problems to become worse. There is evidence that the presence of transnational criminal groups in PNG is growing, taking advantage of PNG's weak immigration controls and poor policing," it said.
Australia and PNG should also consider giving Australia control of PNG customs, immigration and transport security.
"Some functions in PNG which are a high priority for Australian interests, including customs, immigration and transport security, might be handed over for Australia to run at its own expense, although obviously in conformity with PNG policies," the report said.
ASPI said PNG risked collapse within 15 years if the problems were not addressed. The mountainous, jungle-clad nation is already caught in the grip of an HIV/AIDS epidemic and health and education services could disappear.
"Politics and the economy could be dominated by criminals, and the rule of law and respect for human rights could disappear," the ASPI report said.
"And the country could disappear into half a dozen lawless and unviable mini states," it said.
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