Michael Somare says Peter O'Neill has made PNG a 'laughing stock'

3rd time lucky PM
VETERAN Papua New Guinean leader Michael Somare has hit out at rival Peter O'Neill, saying he had made PNG "the laughing stock of the Pacific and the Commonwealth".

Mr O'Neill was appointed Prime Minister yesterday - the third time in less than a year that the 47-year-old has been sworn in as leader.

He won office in August in a vote of MPs during the prolonged absence of predecessor Sir Michael, who was recovering from major heart surgery at the time.

But Sir Michael, now 76, later recovered and has contested Mr O'Neill's rule ever since, taking his case to the Supreme Court, which has twice ruled that Mr O'Neill's rise to power was illegal and Sir Michael should be reinstated.

"You have shown no respect for tradition or protocol let alone the rule of law," Sir Michael, who maintains he is the rightful leader, said of Mr O'Neill in emailed comments.

"What shame you all bring to Papua New Guinea," he said.

"Mr O'Neill and his fellow rogues have crossed the line of decency. Your actions will determine your fate in your respective electorates."

PNG is due to go to the polls on June 23, seen as an important election with the country sitting on massive reserves of gas and minerals that analysts say have the potential to double GDP.

Earlier this week, the Commonwealth bloc of nations called on Papua New Guinea to respect the rule of law and the judiciary's independence, while Australia warned PNG was risking its international image.

AFP

Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 1, 2012 at 11:14 AM

    Well said Sir Mike well said. Noken sori nating long ol. Kalabusim ol asap. Put them behind bars asap.

    ReplyDelete
  2. SunamistJune 1, 2012 at 2:26 PM

    Somare may be right in this current Political tussle, but he is equally liable and responsible for the mess he has created during his reign. Somare's attack on O'Neill, makes him no better than O'Neill, Namah & Nape.
    Somare must apologise first to PNG for running PNG like his private family company, if he wants support and respect from those he has hurt so much during his 9 years as PM.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJune 2, 2012 at 9:26 AM

    Sunamist it would bring some light of you could inform us which sections of the constitution did somare breach and was there court orders that he didn't adhere too

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJune 2, 2012 at 4:43 PM

    I partly agree with Sunamist, but I think Somare was the worst PM in PNG's short history. Talk about important and controversial debates gagged in Parliament through Somare's "dictatorial" control of the House. He had Nape bought and tied to his side. Then talk about his Ombudsman referral, his million dollar fincial adviser at IPBC and the list goes on and on. He even used his so called PM powers to release a convicted female MP which raised eye brows at that time. He placed his family members and friends in strategic positions to milk the country high and dry for himself, his family and a handful of cronies. He had it coming because bad cannot rule forever, there must be a stop somewhere and so it happened.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJune 2, 2012 at 7:11 PM

    However, one thing must be clear here the rule of law was not tempered with like morons oneil and namah. They have raped the constitution and are the worst government in pngs short history.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Moksi KimasJune 2, 2012 at 8:10 PM

    The Constitution is Supreme.
    And like the Bible, it is not meant to be rigid and literal to the reading and interpretations.
    And, like the Bible, a section of the Constitution can be applied and interpreted in any given situation, to give effect to the Constitution. As such, laws are NOT Bend, but applied and interpreted to give effect to The Constitution.
    But for the Executive arm of the Government to literally disregard, dictate, control and bully the Judiciary (which is another arm of the Govt) is definitely UNCONSTITUTIONAL, UNETHICAL & UNLAWFUL, and unheard of in the West Minister system and in the Commonwealth of Nations.
    Let is be known that Parliament is Not Supreme. The Constitution that Created The 3 arms of the Government is Supreme.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJune 3, 2012 at 11:59 AM

    O'Namah were an intergrel part of Somare regime, but every act they performed from 2.8.2011 is unconstitutional, illegal and unlawfull for all purposes, so where is the comparision?

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJune 3, 2012 at 8:48 PM

    people if you vote those people who tampered with our constituition and the rule of law. i dont know we will be in the next 5years. we will be under a dictatorial government. vote wisely

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousJune 3, 2012 at 9:49 PM

    Saw Namah on EMTV's Election Focus potraying himself as the Messiah send to save PNG. He even wants to be PM. Irrational and arrogant as he is, the only way he can archieve PM position is illegally as he and sidekick O'Neill did. What is certain for Namah's forseeable future is that he is going to Jail, GUARENTEED.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousJune 3, 2012 at 10:10 PM

    Do we want CONVICTED CRIMINAL for PM? We have had a test run in the last 10 months, power is in our hands now so elect wisely.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousJune 4, 2012 at 7:50 AM

    Somare in his reign ruled with an iron rod n ruled the country as a family business. Whether ONamah got it legally o illegally, Somare MUST go. The current situation has created a perfect avenue for civil unrest n bloodshed but the country is quiet because they don't want to support Somare's regime. Watch it happen come this election if Somare wins it. He'll be kicked around like football in the parliament.

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousJune 4, 2012 at 2:18 PM

    Better to live in a society where the rule of law is observed by all then a lawless one with a self-styled ex-convict messiah at the helm making laws to suit himself, cronies and sidekicks.

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousJune 5, 2012 at 8:10 AM

    Why not clean sweep of the house?

    ReplyDelete

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