Papua New Guinea's Police Commissioner has warned that security forces are prepared to take tough action against anyone seen with guns during the upcoming elections.
Gary Baki told the Post-Courier newspaper that his men are under strict directives to "use all necessary force" to confiscate them.
Mr Baki says elections are the only time people exercise their mandate to choose their leaders, and that police will not tolerate anyone disturbing that process with the threat of guns.
The commissioner says there are still many illegal firearms in the Highlands, admitting there's been little success in having them voluntarily surrendered.
He says lessons learnt from the 2002 elections call for police to be on full alert, particularly in the Highlands, and any threat will be met with force.
