Kicked in the Face

OP-ED

 

It was too good to last. That is our conclusion when we view the political marriage between the National Alliance Party (NA) and the United Resource Party (URP) now. In a country where political alliances used to last no more than 18 months, nine years both parties have stayed together is a record of sorts in the political history of Papua New Guinea.

The current NA led Government swept to power in 2002 and retained the Government after the 2007 National Elections. The electors endorsed the NA as the party to lead Government by voting in 22 MPs while URP joined NA as its major coalition partner with six MPs. The two were joined by several junior political parties. With men like Don Pomb Polye, Sam Abal, Patrick Pruaitch, Paul Tiensten, William Duma, Anderson Agiru and Peter O’Neill with other leaders of the minor parties at the helm, they provided the needed support to the Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, to establish a stable Government for this country.

That partnership remained solid for the duration of the previous term of Parliament and it remained that way for much of this term. If there was any grumblings in the Government ranks, Sir Michael stepped in and dealt with those issues. Of course, there was the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates, a piece of legislation enacted by the Mekere Morauta government just before the 2002 National Elections that helped consolidate that partnership and consequently, Papua New Guinea enjoyed an unprecedented long period of political stability in its 36 years of independence. We all know that that stability also translated to other positive gains, including the high level of economic growth experienced in recent years.

What has happened in politics and in particular the Government in the last few weeks is bringing to an end the political marriage between the two biggest political parties in the country. This is because Duma, who was in a successful private practice as a lawyer before he turned to politics, is highly regarded in his own party. He is credited for holding the URP together in its formative years and bringing it up to what it is today, a major coalition partner in the Government.

In a country where loyalty is traded like a commodity in politics, Duma has remained loyal to Sir Michael over the last nine years. When Sir Michael appointed him to be the Minister for Petroleum and Energy, he was told by the PM in no uncertain terms to deliver an LNG project, which he did and two of them at that.

We all understand why Don Pomb Polye was sacked. For Duma, the reason given by the Acting PM, and that is, for the problems at the LNG project site, is hard to swallow. The LNG project has always been confronted with landowner problems starting from the day when the Umbrella Benefit Sharing Agreement was signed in Kokopo in April 2009. The blame should not be laid at the feet of Duma alone. Other ministers and members like Arthur Somare, Patrick Pruaitch, Francis Potape, Anderson Agiru and the Acting PM, Sam Abal, should share the blame. 

Each and all of them have contributed to the landowner problems in Hela Province. And furthermore, each and all of them have failed miserably to deal with the issues they instigated in the first place. We agree with Duma that all these problems are related to money. The Government did not allocate enough money to the Petroleum and Energy Department to deliver to the landowners.

So what is the real reason? Are external forces at play here as many suspect? We may never know the answers to these questions but only time will reveal, we hope.

For his commitment and loyalty to his Government and job, Duma has been kicked in the face. How does he and those close to him feel now? And this has happened 12 months to the 2012 General Elections.

We are afraid, Duma is not going to forgive and forget.