PNG 'launch pad for terror attack'
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Townsville,Nth Queensland
Posts: 2,717
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PNG 'launch pad for terror attack'
Tues "The Australian"
PNG 'launch pad for terror attack'
March 23, 2004
TERRORISTS could take advantage of lax security at Papua New Guinea airports to launch an attack on Australia, Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson warned tonight.
Mr Anderson said an incident last month when a passenger carrying a pistol was waved through security at Port Moresby airport, despite setting off a medal detector, was a concern.
Australia has provided four high-tech screening devices to PNG and is spending millions of dollars to upgrade airport security for its Pacific neighbours.
An Australian aid delegation is touring the South Pacific to see which other airports need security upgrades.
"I want to reassure your viewers that we take this very seriously," Mr Anderson told ABC Television's Lateline program.
"We're very conscious we want to look for all potential weak linkages in security arrangements in and out of Australia, and for people who might be the subject of an attempt by terrorists to use one of our neighbouring countries as a launching pad."
Last month, a businessman travelling to Singapore was waved through by rushed security guards, who ignored the alarm triggered by his carry-on bag as he passed through security.
Rural Development Bank managing director Wai Kitts discovered his mistake just minutes before the flight landed in Singapore and handed the weapon to cabin crew.
Airport authorities said security guards assumed the metal item to possibly be "coins or a set of keys".
The lax security is of concern for Australia because Qantas and Air Niugini passengers fly to Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns on Air Niugini flights.
Former Australian spy Norm Neligan said the incident highlighted a potentially fatal security flaw.
"Their security regime is not as robust as ours," Neligan told the program.
"Obviously, it's a concern because those aircraft do fly to Australia and we have Australians flying on them."
Opposition transport spokesman Martin Ferguson said it was a problem around the South Pacific.
"You only have to go to these Pacific nations to actually experience it firsthand," he told the ABC.
"Vanuatu, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, everyone knows there are problems in the Pacific."
==========================================
PNG 'launch pad for terror attack'
March 23, 2004
TERRORISTS could take advantage of lax security at Papua New Guinea airports to launch an attack on Australia, Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson warned tonight.
Mr Anderson said an incident last month when a passenger carrying a pistol was waved through security at Port Moresby airport, despite setting off a medal detector, was a concern.
Australia has provided four high-tech screening devices to PNG and is spending millions of dollars to upgrade airport security for its Pacific neighbours.
An Australian aid delegation is touring the South Pacific to see which other airports need security upgrades.
"I want to reassure your viewers that we take this very seriously," Mr Anderson told ABC Television's Lateline program.
"We're very conscious we want to look for all potential weak linkages in security arrangements in and out of Australia, and for people who might be the subject of an attempt by terrorists to use one of our neighbouring countries as a launching pad."
Last month, a businessman travelling to Singapore was waved through by rushed security guards, who ignored the alarm triggered by his carry-on bag as he passed through security.
Rural Development Bank managing director Wai Kitts discovered his mistake just minutes before the flight landed in Singapore and handed the weapon to cabin crew.
Airport authorities said security guards assumed the metal item to possibly be "coins or a set of keys".
The lax security is of concern for Australia because Qantas and Air Niugini passengers fly to Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns on Air Niugini flights.
Former Australian spy Norm Neligan said the incident highlighted a potentially fatal security flaw.
"Their security regime is not as robust as ours," Neligan told the program.
"Obviously, it's a concern because those aircraft do fly to Australia and we have Australians flying on them."
Opposition transport spokesman Martin Ferguson said it was a problem around the South Pacific.
"You only have to go to these Pacific nations to actually experience it firsthand," he told the ABC.
"Vanuatu, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, everyone knows there are problems in the Pacific."
==========================================
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Land of everlasting thirst
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I absolutly agree and I think in light of recent events, especially the 'pistol in the bag until TOD', event, PX is seriously "looking" into it's security lapses.
On a lighter note, this e-mail was doing the rounds shortly after the 9-11 tragedy.
Quote
The tragedy in the US cannot happen in PNG because:
1. They cannot construct exaggerated high rise buildings,
2. They all get on the late bus in the morning so at 08:45 the building is still empty.
3. Fire fighters and the Police would not arrive in time so there would not be any casualties among them.
4. Air niugini would surely have fouled up plans by being delayed again.
5. If a terrorist was living in PNG for a year, he would have been raped, robbed, molested and probably killed before he could execute his plans.
Unquote.
On a lighter note, this e-mail was doing the rounds shortly after the 9-11 tragedy.
Quote
The tragedy in the US cannot happen in PNG because:
1. They cannot construct exaggerated high rise buildings,
2. They all get on the late bus in the morning so at 08:45 the building is still empty.
3. Fire fighters and the Police would not arrive in time so there would not be any casualties among them.
4. Air niugini would surely have fouled up plans by being delayed again.
5. If a terrorist was living in PNG for a year, he would have been raped, robbed, molested and probably killed before he could execute his plans.
Unquote.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Townsville,Nth Queensland
Posts: 2,717
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ABC News Online
Wednesday, March 24, 2004. 4:52pm (AEDT)
Govt to ban 'unsecure' Pacific flights
The Federal Government will ban flights to Australia from Pacific countries that cannot guarantee adequate airport security.
The ABC has revealed a businessman carried a gun on board a flight from Papua New Guinea to Singapore last month
The Transport Minister, John Anderson, has admitted Pacific airports could be used as launching pads by terrorists targeting Australia.
"We can't dictate to them what standards they must impose," Mr Anderson said.
"But we do clearly reserve the right to simply refuse access to Australia if we do not believe that their security arrangements are in place and of adequate depth and breadth to secure our safety."
==========================================
Wed "Courier Mail"
March 24th, 2004
Shoot to kill order
PORT MORESBY: Security guards at an airport in Papua New Guinea have been ordered to "shoot to kill" anyone trying to steal navigation lights. The Highlands township of Goroka has been without jet services for three months after thieves stole the lights which make up the Visual Approach Slope Indicating System to assist pilots when landing. The powerful lights, which can be seen from the air by day, have allegedly been used by the thieves as spotlights for vehicles. Minister for Internal Security Bire Kimisopa said a replacement system would be installed next week to allow Air Niugini jets to resume services to the airport and "the provincial government will purchase a firearm to be used by airport guards on a 24-hour basis, with a shoot to kill order for any moving objects, whether animals or human".
============================================
Wednesday, March 24, 2004. 4:52pm (AEDT)
Govt to ban 'unsecure' Pacific flights
The Federal Government will ban flights to Australia from Pacific countries that cannot guarantee adequate airport security.
The ABC has revealed a businessman carried a gun on board a flight from Papua New Guinea to Singapore last month
The Transport Minister, John Anderson, has admitted Pacific airports could be used as launching pads by terrorists targeting Australia.
"We can't dictate to them what standards they must impose," Mr Anderson said.
"But we do clearly reserve the right to simply refuse access to Australia if we do not believe that their security arrangements are in place and of adequate depth and breadth to secure our safety."
==========================================
Wed "Courier Mail"
March 24th, 2004
Shoot to kill order
PORT MORESBY: Security guards at an airport in Papua New Guinea have been ordered to "shoot to kill" anyone trying to steal navigation lights. The Highlands township of Goroka has been without jet services for three months after thieves stole the lights which make up the Visual Approach Slope Indicating System to assist pilots when landing. The powerful lights, which can be seen from the air by day, have allegedly been used by the thieves as spotlights for vehicles. Minister for Internal Security Bire Kimisopa said a replacement system would be installed next week to allow Air Niugini jets to resume services to the airport and "the provincial government will purchase a firearm to be used by airport guards on a 24-hour basis, with a shoot to kill order for any moving objects, whether animals or human".
============================================
Last edited by Wirraway; 24th Mar 2004 at 06:33.
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Godzone
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It might be easier if the term "terrorist attacks" was defined a bit more. Does the PX's 767 has the appropriate security door? It all smacks of a beat up of the story which happened some time ago and was all over the PNG newspapers' websites.
Over 2001/2 I flew both PX and QF many times to from Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns and back and have witnessed the lax security provided by the under funded airport in Port Moresby. At least QF hired its own security to do manual bag searches and they weren't chewing the nut!
The most frustrating part was Brisbane's arrival security at the international terminal's access to the transit lounge and having to dismantle the laptop yet again. Mind you, I'd have hated to have seen their panic if they had found this joker with his pistol. Since they are low paid workers and not very fit either, what would they have done?
its going to get far worse there!||
Over 2001/2 I flew both PX and QF many times to from Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns and back and have witnessed the lax security provided by the under funded airport in Port Moresby. At least QF hired its own security to do manual bag searches and they weren't chewing the nut!
The most frustrating part was Brisbane's arrival security at the international terminal's access to the transit lounge and having to dismantle the laptop yet again. Mind you, I'd have hated to have seen their panic if they had found this joker with his pistol. Since they are low paid workers and not very fit either, what would they have done?
its going to get far worse there!||
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Twyford, UK
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kumul Bit harsh to include Pixie in the blame for this incident. The CAA provide the Security for the airport, and for all operators not just our brave lads..
Mind you, when 006.5 was there, he would have hit them with his handbag.!! This sort of incident is probably an almost daily occurrence (or something like it) I am amazed that the machines were working at all to give a bleep for them to ignore.!!
Where does the aid money to fund this sort of thing go.?? Sorry...stupid question.
Mind you, when 006.5 was there, he would have hit them with his handbag.!! This sort of incident is probably an almost daily occurrence (or something like it) I am amazed that the machines were working at all to give a bleep for them to ignore.!!
Where does the aid money to fund this sort of thing go.?? Sorry...stupid question.
Retired Tiger pilot
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Club Morocco. Subic Bay. Philippines
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Taildragger me ol' china!The facts are that CAA could not/did not provide adequate security at Jacksons with pixie forced into assuming the duties to protect their own and QF interests. The cost has been borne by pixie with little chance of recompense.
In 2003, Ausaid provided funding for four new baggage scanners plus wtmd units. After advertising the security contract, a finalist was selected to commence duties 1 November 2003. I believe that the contractor has yet to assume full responsibilities at Jacksons even after nearly 5 months and pixie is still handling the bulk of the work.
I think that if you get the real story on the latest debacle, you may find that VIP's went direct from the VIP lounge to the aircraft and did not pass through the 'sterile' departure lounge. But there is absolutely no excuse for someone not conducting a physical inspection of carry-on hand baggage. Did the 'big-man' principle scare them off?
The required duties are covered in CAA Security Manuals as well as new CAR's and it will be interesting to see if the person is charged aas a result of the incident that breached PNG CAR's.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Twyford, UK
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I stand corrected Oh Wise one. I saw 006.5 in BNE....in fact I was admitted to the very hospital that he is in charge of security for. He popped in to see me around 3 times a day. That was nice.
Long story, but I have done in my Starboard Undercarriage and it has got to be stiffenned for 3 months. Now there was another bit that needed stiffening....what was it.?? Lessee......
Oh... PS . Long taim bipo, when we were battling the Subcontinental gentleman on the design of the new Terminal, or lack of it, this "Bypass" possibility was raised as an issue, and we were firmly told it was a high level government thing and only those exempt from inspection would be allowed to use it.
Long story, but I have done in my Starboard Undercarriage and it has got to be stiffenned for 3 months. Now there was another bit that needed stiffening....what was it.?? Lessee......
Oh... PS . Long taim bipo, when we were battling the Subcontinental gentleman on the design of the new Terminal, or lack of it, this "Bypass" possibility was raised as an issue, and we were firmly told it was a high level government thing and only those exempt from inspection would be allowed to use it.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Port Moresby
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pixie passengers through Singapore now have to exit via the waiting lounge and pass through the scanners and metal detector before they can get into the terminal.
Hope this isn't a permenant arrangement as it's very time consuming.
Hope this isn't a permenant arrangement as it's very time consuming.
Wots all this about yer "Starboard Undercarriage" Taily? Is it likely to affect your attendance in London, later this year? 
