30 Jan 2012

Samoa PM warns of dangers with military involvement in government

4:02 pm on 30 January 2012

Samoa's Prime Minister says last week's failed mutiny in Port Moresby is a dangerous sign that Papua New Guinea could go down the same path as Fiji.

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi describes the politically-motivated mutiny at Murray Barracks as harmful not just to PNG's image but that of the Pacific Islands region as a whole.

Tuilaepa says that once a military force gets involved in civilian government, its impact can be dangerously contagious.

He says that's the reason why his government has always opposed the military government in Fiji.

Tuilaepa says military officers are not trained or qualified to take over civilian governance and deal with civilian issues.