O’Neill vs the Unitech Students: Regroup and Restrategize
The Unitech student leadership has fought boldly for justice and accountability in PNG’s premier technological university. It has taken two decades for that rot to accumulate, so it will not come out easily. It may take 4 weeks or four months…fight on! All parents, sponsors (except pro-O’Neillers like governors Ipatas, Powes and Naru) and real citizens of this country are with you. If the dialogue fails (because of O’Neill’s highly deceptive tactics), and you take it to the streets of Lae and Port Moresby, we are all ready to go on the rampage with you.
If it becomes apparent that the Gore-Kua team does not issue appropriate (work) visa to Dr. Schram, then that could mean that the students are fighting directly with the Prime Minister. It appears to most educated men and women in this country that Peter O’Neill is trying to bring this student uprising (against corruption) to an end by resorting to deceit, dishonesty and threat – without addressing the students initial demands (the return of Dr. A. Schram as the VC, and the publishing/implementing of the Sevua Report). In that case, the Unitech SRC must regroup and re-strategize her battle plan to ensure that O’Neill and his corrupt buddies are publicly disgraced and defeated. Below is my assessment of the situation and how it should be fought:
1. First, the Unitech students need to be reminded that this war is not against any shadowy characters (like Stagg, Seulep, the interim SEM) or the visible faces of NEC (Gore, Kua, Marape, Micah, Maru or Kirivurvurmu). This fight is with the Prime Minister of PNG; Peter O’Neill. As such, one must ask, whether the “NEC is acting on the advice or recommendation of the Gore-led negotiators” or “the Prime Minister (under the influence of the above shadowy characters), is dictating his “negotiators” (Gore-Kua team). It occurs to me that each a team comes up to Unitech, they are carefully “coached” (by the Prime Minister) on what to say, what not to say, and how to say.
2. Second, Peter O’Neill has attempted to squash the student protests by: (i). first, trying bribe the student leadership (like he did with Hosea Livingstone) by arranging a “secret” meeting outside of Unitech campus, (ii). then resorting to that infamous “final warning” press release by Gore, (iii). later, a threat to terminate 2014-school-year by O’Neill, (iv). next, O’Neill deployed a “divide and rule tactic.” Governors like Parkop, Naru and the Ipatas began to issue threats to “their sponsored” students. The HICAS did the same. (v). when none of this worked, O’Neill changed his strategy to “deception and dishonesty.” Gore, Kua, Marabe, Maru and other “sorcerers” were used in this scheme. They showed up at Unitech campus and sounded “genuine and sincere.” But now what is this that we hear? A “tourist visa”? The Gore-Kua team even had the audacity to fake their “sincerity.” What a shame!
3. “Sapos het blong wara em dirty, ass blong em ino gutpela long drink.” Many good reputable and Christian leaders like Kua, Gore, Marabe, Micah, and Maru are getting their asses burnt just to have O’Neill’s stinking ass (which they knew is indeed corrupt) covered. These elaborate and deceptive tactics are not originating from these leaders who have shamelessly sold their souls to O’Neill’s trickery. But they are only dancing to the beats of O’Neill’s ever changing tunes. This means that the students do not have to waste their limited arsenal by targeting these con-messengers, middlemen and “leaders without real authorities” (like Kua, Gore, Marabe, Micah, Maru, the police minister, SEM, Kirivuruvur [or whatever]. There has to be a sustained and intentional effort to target the Prime Minister; Peter CONeill. He is the one with the dirty hands. It is him who is carefully orchestrating these tactical moves – the moves which are borrowed straight from his old “NPF-playbook.”
4. The Prime Minister is able to play these (above) games with the students, partly because of the students’ failure. The students began well with a “No Schram-No school” slogan. But it occurs to me that they had no alternate plan (Plan B). If Schram was not returned as the VC within a specified time, what was their next move? Just passively wait, and let weeks roll into months? Four weeks have gone now, and are you going to just sit there and chant “No Schram. No School”? Peter O’Neill’s response to your slogan is “so what?”, “who cares?”, “that doesn’t affect me one bit.” In fact, he has threatened to “close the school” and “send you home.” The students must be ACTIVE fighters. Do you see how Sir Mekere rebuffs O’Neill on PNGDSP issue? Be articulate. Do not just say “No Schram. No School.” Reveal, expose, rebutt and where possible warn. (Footnote: protest is and must be the ONLY manner in which you must fight. Do not think about going to court, because you lack both the resources and the time. What if the court decides in O’Neill’s favour?).
5. Peter O’Neill has sieged on your passivity/lack of an alternate plan and tried every way to squash your protests. But he has failed thus far. Does that mean he will stop trying? Not likely. So in that case, what should you do? Do you (students) passively go into another week with your decorated slogan (“No Schram-No School”)? Or do you even have the time to WAIT? Or even if you had the time, should you wait? And let the PM come up with another cunning plan? Of course not. Here is what I suggest you do and put this issue to an end.
6. Declare that you have lost the confidence of Gore, Kua, Marabe, Micah, Maru and that you do not want to see their faces again on Unitech Campus. Once a lair, always a liar. So keep those lying mouths out of the campus. And then issue RE-NEWED “3 DAYS” ULTIMATUM to the Prime Minister to have Dr. Albert Schram returned to Unitech as the VC.
7. If he delays, ignores or refuses to comply in a timely manner, clearly state that “the prime minister will face the consequences” of his “inaction” or “inability to act” in a timely manner.” You do not have to specify what those actions will constitute, because we know what we are going to do. Rampage! The PM and his associates have warned, conned, threatened, deceived and lied to you enough. Now issue him your ultimatum! With your ultimatum, we will make sure that WE DO NOT LIE. WE BACK OUR WORDS WITH OUR ACTIONS. AND THE ACTIONS WILL REVERBERATE AROUND THIS COUNTRY AND SPILL OVER INTO NIEGHBOURING COUNTRIES!
8. The PM knows that it was a "Student-NGO led" protest that put him in the PM's seat. And that only a "similar movement" can remove him. The prime minister needs to be put on the spotlight. There has to be real and sustained pressure on him. The best method is "MEDIA". There has to be strategically released media communiques to all media outlets; both local and international. Australian media and population must know the kind of Prime Minister we have now. The international diplomatic core, international institutions, and other agencies (in PNG) must know (I’m sure they already know by now) that Peter O’Neill is anti-education, pro-corruption, lair and a conman. Do not “accuse” him as such, but in a civil manner lay out his inconsistencies. Quote him on what his said before and during the Sevua Inquiry and his actions now.
9. Do not let media outlets “look for things to publish”. Do not let them write “what they want to write” or “what O’Neill-Gore wants them to write (Or Parkop, Naru and Ipatas want them to write). But you provide for them what YOU want them to write. Because it is YOUR war, you control the information and the media. You reveal and rebuff O’Neill publicly. You call press conference. You release communiques. Be strategic. Do know what information you want to release now, and what information you want to release tomorrow. Be intentional about it. Build up the pressure. Point out how Peter O’Neill preaches “anti-corrution” message in public but in private he is both the face and the embodiment of corruption!
10. Students must not just say “No Schram. No School” and wait around at the university gate. Be articulate. Expose Kua, Gore and others who are of one mind with the Prime Minister. Some of these are parents and church leaders who have a reputation and families to protect. Provide and date, venue and the statements they (Kua, Gore, Maru, Marabe, Micah) have made. Show how these leaders have NOT honoured their commitments. These leaders have children, family members and friends around the country and world. Let them know what their father, brother, mother, sisters or friend is like.
11. Peter O’Neill will try to fight this battle (to protect his corrupt colleagues) but only up to a certain extend. He will not fight to a point where he sacrifices his prime ministership. In other words, if the “Unitech-saga” will cost him his “stolen prime ministership”, he will give in and let Stagg and Seulep and others follow Pomio MP into Bomana.
12. Especially now that he has unilaterally “approved” the K4 Billion UBS loan, he knows that the climate is not good for him. With Polye going public. Ombudsman Commission on his tail. UPNG student interests being awoken. The NGO’s rearing their dreaded heads. PPL issues. And all those suspicious contracts to one or two companies and their rumoured kick-backs the PM has received. The PM knows that it was the same “team” that removed his predecessors (Somare, Chan, and Mekere. And so to do damage control, the PM is sending out his lieutenants (Marabe, Micah and Kua). But despite that the people of people are smelling something rotten.
13. Also he has created enemies within the government rank and file. Duma, Polye and Namah are out there. In public these men may be denying any relationship, but there are things happening behind the scene. Now that 17 party executives have publicly spoken out against O’Neill’s as it tactics, he is on the alert. Anyway, none of these (other) issues (political, contractual, loan, PPL, etc) will trigger the “nation-wide” cry against O’Neill, like it did for those PMs before him. It is the “Unitech-UPNG-NGO’s” that has the potential to “spark” or “ignite” the flames which will cleanse corruption in this country. So let the students “threaten to ignite” in 3-days! Do not wait for “O’Neill to initiate the next move.” You students need to make the first move!
14. Discredit those above “fake-negotiators.” And Demand that Peter O’Neill bring Schram back as VC this week! The choice O’Neill faces now is: either Peter O’Neill lets his corrupt buddies follow Tienstein to Bomana and he keeps his seat (for now); or he loses both his “buddies” and his prime ministership! Over to you, students! If you guys cannot solve amically “inside” bring it outside, and we will take it to the next level!
