Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library

Print Close

Alpers, Philip. 2005 ‘Mercenaries, Hired Guns, and Gunmen.’ Gun-running in Papua New Guinea: From arrows to assault weapons in the Southern Highlands; Special Report No. 5, pp. 95-96. Geneva: Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva. 1 July

Relevant contents

Mercenaries, Hired Guns, and Gunmen

"Most firearms used in tribal fighting in the Highlands region are unlicensed and are on hire to warring tribesmen. Police Commissioner Sam Inguba said… police believe the firearms used are making the rounds of tribal hotspots, meaning they are being hired out to tribesmen who pay for the services of being armed." - Sam Inguba, commissioner of police…

Among the gunmen interviewed, Kondup/Konjop fighter 'Michael' seems to have been one of the earliest renters: 'I was the tribe's gun buyer, and one of the best shooters. I travelled to Port Moresby and other places for my clan, buying and renting guns. I hired M16s and AR15s in 1994 and 1997. I hired two M16s in 1997 from their owner in SHP [Southern Highlands Province]. In the battles, I shot at least four men.'…

Wogia gunman 'Lukas', who fought around Mendi from 1999 to 2002, recalled: 'I used an M16, an AR15, and a .303 jungle carbine in the tribal fights. We brought those in on three months' hire, for two pigs and PGK 1,000 [USD 330] cash each. I remember shooting one man at 200 metres. I got him in the head, "poof!" I'm sure he was dead. Many others I hit, but not confirmed kills' (his term).

ID: Q650

As many publishers change their links and archive their pages, the full-text version of this article may no longer be available from the original link. In this case, please go to the publisher's web site or use a search engine.

Array
(
    [type] => 8
    [message] => Trying to get property 'websource' of non-object
    [file] => /home/gpo/public_html/components/com_gpo/helpers/citation.php
    [line] => 153
)