UNION PROTEST ON TODAY
Unions in Papua New Guinea say they are about to organise industrial action and a disruption to services in the nation's capital to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.
Businesses in Port Moresby are being told to expect disruptions to water and electricity services, while public servants are being urged not to show up for work as part of the protest against the O'Neill government's desire to delay the 2012 elections by six months.
"There may be disruptions to communications, which can affect banking," said John Paska, general secretary of the Papua New Guinea Trade Union Congress, which covers 70,000 workers.
"There will be certain levels of disruption to services not necessarily tomorrow (Tuesday) alone, but until the government repeals the laws that are draconian, are undermining the constitution," he told AAP.
Mr Paska said the unions will organise a small protest outside parliament on Tuesday to hand a petition to the government.
He said both Mr O'Neill and Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah should resign after voting to suspend June 23 elections and for suspending the nation's chief Justice, Sir Salamo Injia.
The government says it voted to suspend the elections as a protest against the unreadiness of the common rolls in key Highlands electorates.
However Speaker Jeffery Nape has called on Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen, a staunch opponent of parliament's vote to delay elections, to obey parliament's will on the matter and agree to the delay.
The government has also passed a series of laws the critics say will limit the power of judges, including one that gives parliament the power to suspend a judge.
It has also introduced but not passed a seven-year jail term for any judge who ignores the suspension order.
That law is aimed squarely at Sir Salamo, who police sources say is currently being guarded by former soldiers and a small squad of police at his home in Port Moresby.
In early April the government voted to delay the June 23 election by six months, despite not having the constitutional power to do so.
After a massive public outcry, Mr O'Neill said the vote was only a protest and that elections will be held on time.
He's since changed his tune, and the government is now investigating the 2010 reappointment of Mr Trawen as electoral commissioner.
"He has to step up and perform his duties," Mr O'Neill said of Mr Trawen at Friday's launch of his People's National Congress election campaign.
"He has had five years to update the common roll. He's had five years to prepare for this election. "There are questions (about his appointment) that need to be answered."
Monday's Post Courier Newspaper carried a front page headline "PM: Polls is Oct 27", however the story only quotes Mr O'Neill attacking Mr Trawen's performance earlier that day on the floor of parliament.
Mr O'Neill is adamant PNG will go to the poll's "soon", however, and that the date is up to the electoral commissioner.
Mr Paksa isn't so sure.
"What we have at the moment is a government that is moving towards a dictatorial regime."
"All that needs to happen now is for them to formalise it."
AAP
Businesses in Port Moresby are being told to expect disruptions to water and electricity services, while public servants are being urged not to show up for work as part of the protest against the O'Neill government's desire to delay the 2012 elections by six months.
"There may be disruptions to communications, which can affect banking," said John Paska, general secretary of the Papua New Guinea Trade Union Congress, which covers 70,000 workers.
"There will be certain levels of disruption to services not necessarily tomorrow (Tuesday) alone, but until the government repeals the laws that are draconian, are undermining the constitution," he told AAP.
Mr Paska said the unions will organise a small protest outside parliament on Tuesday to hand a petition to the government.
He said both Mr O'Neill and Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah should resign after voting to suspend June 23 elections and for suspending the nation's chief Justice, Sir Salamo Injia.
The government says it voted to suspend the elections as a protest against the unreadiness of the common rolls in key Highlands electorates.
However Speaker Jeffery Nape has called on Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen, a staunch opponent of parliament's vote to delay elections, to obey parliament's will on the matter and agree to the delay.
The government has also passed a series of laws the critics say will limit the power of judges, including one that gives parliament the power to suspend a judge.
It has also introduced but not passed a seven-year jail term for any judge who ignores the suspension order.
That law is aimed squarely at Sir Salamo, who police sources say is currently being guarded by former soldiers and a small squad of police at his home in Port Moresby.
In early April the government voted to delay the June 23 election by six months, despite not having the constitutional power to do so.
After a massive public outcry, Mr O'Neill said the vote was only a protest and that elections will be held on time.
He's since changed his tune, and the government is now investigating the 2010 reappointment of Mr Trawen as electoral commissioner.
"He has to step up and perform his duties," Mr O'Neill said of Mr Trawen at Friday's launch of his People's National Congress election campaign.
"He has had five years to update the common roll. He's had five years to prepare for this election. "There are questions (about his appointment) that need to be answered."
Monday's Post Courier Newspaper carried a front page headline "PM: Polls is Oct 27", however the story only quotes Mr O'Neill attacking Mr Trawen's performance earlier that day on the floor of parliament.
Mr O'Neill is adamant PNG will go to the poll's "soon", however, and that the date is up to the electoral commissioner.
Mr Paksa isn't so sure.
"What we have at the moment is a government that is moving towards a dictatorial regime."
"All that needs to happen now is for them to formalise it."
AAP
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