PNG spy chief warns of cuts to funding

Transcript

The Chief of the National Intelligence Organisation in Papua New Guinea has warned that the government needs to take the threat of terrorism more seriously.

Gari Baki says he is not happy that the NIO has been allocated around 4 million US dollars less than he requested from government and the shortfall will affect operations.

Mr Baki told Koro Vaka'uta he is frustrated at the funding.

GARI BAKI: It raises the question as to whether you are doing the right thing or you are wasting time putting a budget submission that goes in without much view or attention being given to it at all.  This is the experience that intelligence in Papua New Guinea has gone through over the years.  I asked for 15.77 million (kina) based on an analysis that's been conducted in the agency and looking at a variety of issues including manpower, equipment, you know, what is required to run an intelligence organisation.  That is what is currently needed.

KORO VAKA'UTA: What does that shortfall mean for your operations or the plans you had?

GB: Basically, really this is just sufficient to maintain the current operations as we have now.  There's really no room for anything else, for me to do anything.  I can't even, there's no opportunity for me to have any implementation or interest in terms of stuff to prepare for major events that are coming in and that the country will be hosting.  Our ability to be able to assess and carry out threat assessments in various resource projects around the country.  To be part of the government other security agencies that are responsible for it.

KV: What types of events could be affected by this?

GB: We have the South Pacific Games which is coming up in 2015, then we have in 2016 I think the Forum Leaders meeting here as well as that there will be lead-up meetings for APEC conducted in Papua New Guinea in 2016.  We have the national elections coming around in 2017 and then we have the biggest event of all that's going to be hosted in the country is the APEC Leaders Summit in 2018.  This will require ongoing assessment to determine the level of threats we need to interact with our foreign colleagues in other countries, APEC countries to know exactly what are the threats that are associated with their leaders if they come into Papua New Guinea.  An understanding from the intelligence point of view, that's what is lacking and the organisation, we have to really struggle to try and meet up with this as time comes.  As I see, I will not be in a position at all to do anything.

KV: Can you cover for those events that you speak of?

GB: Honest, gut feeling.  I will do as much as I can to support the existing agencies to do what they can but in terms of progressing the organisation, it's a challenge and it's going to be a set-back.

KV: Is the security of the nation compromised at all by the lack of funds?

GB: Papua New Guinea's at the doorstep of Australia.  Australia now is the subject of terrorism.  There's so many activities happening in Australia and for one to think that nothing of that kind of nature could happen in Papua New Guinea, it's an understatement.  We need to really prepare ourselves for anything, much bigger than what is expected.