People ran in all directions, zigzagging through speeding vehicles d panic gripped the drivers. From a far I could hear gun shots and instead of people retreating driven by panicked motorists.

Within half an hour, the rarely seen “people’s power” seemed to find a lease of life. It was a spectacle to behold and it gave some of us an insight into the potential and mostly dormant power of destruction that lies with the ordinary people.

Past nationwide protests such as the Privatisation Strike and the Sandline Issue witnessed “people’s power” as the silent majority found voice to r fight for a common cause.

During the stand-off between the Police and Defence, I sensed we were on a brink of anarchy. Such situations can easily lead to disastrous outcomes for our country.  After all, PNG just came through a terrible experience in which Sir Michael Somare and Peter O’Neill faced off, creating division between Defence and the Police.

An attempted mutiny and the removal of Tom Kulunga as Police Commissioner under questionable circumstances are also still fresh in our minds.

Many of us feared that the wounds created at that time could be re-opened. What was worrying about the Erima incident was that it revealed the great division between Police and Army.

Most of the people I spoke to afterwards said the recent increase in cases of Police brutality and harsh treatment against informal sector vendors has hardened the public’s feelings against the police. Again, as was mostly the case in the past, commonsense prevailed and the tension subsided.

The eager reaction of the public to potential looting prompted me to ponder whether Papua New Guineans are natural opportunists.

Maybe it’s just a spur of the moment thing where the situation pumps adrenaline and people go wild and act recklessly.

But I do not understand how people would be drawn into a frenzy by the sound of gunfire. Commonsense would tell you that guns blazing indicates danger and yet here we had people running towards the scene.

Such incidents defy logic and I was left somewhat amazed at how Papua New Guineans can act when confronted with this kind of situation. The description ‘PNG - land of the unexpected’is very fitting.

Now, the hierarchy of both Police and Defence along with the national government need to thoroughly investigate the incident.

Commendations must go to the hierarchy of both Police and Defence for quickly setting up a joint taskforce to investigate what happened.

It is hoped that they recommend action to ensure those involved are brought to face the full weight of the law.

By the same token, the investigation must also ask how such incidents are becoming a norm where dissatisfied soldiers can attack police officers.

Findings from an investigation into the incident involving members of the PNGDF and students at the UPNG Medical Faculty is still to be made public. Not a good precedent for transparency.

Let us hope that conflict of this nature involving members of our disciplinary forces do not continue.

Such incidents can be easily viewed as a symptom of a lack of command and control within the force and a sign of a failing democracy.