Page "Papua New Guinea Defence Force" Paragraph 4

During its history the PNGDF has sent 400 troops to assist the Vanuatu government put down a secessionist revolt in 1980 and was called out in aid to the civil power in Port Moresby in 1983.

It has also conducted operations against the OPM ( Organisasi Papua Merdeka or Free Papua Movement ), based in Irian Barat, and which had been involved fighting the Indonesian armed forces.

From 1989 to 1997 the PNGDF was involved in fighting the secessionist Bougainville Revolutionary Army ( BRA ) on Bougainville and Buka.

During these operations the PNGDF was criticised for its treatment of civilians, human rights violations and the use of mercenaries.

More recently, following the passage of a constitutional amendment allowing the stationing of the PNGDF on foreign soil, 80 personnel joined the Australia-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands ( RAMSI ) in July 2003.

As of 2008 PNGDF personnel remain in the Solomon Islands as part of the scaled down, rotational Pacific contingent.