PNGBLOGS

ROWAN CALLICK - THE AUSTRALIAN PAPUA New Guinea's wily, veteran fox of a Prime Minister, Michael Somare, contrived yesterday to escape what seemed a likely sudden political death by having parliament adjourned until November. Buoyed by his win, Sir Michael, 74, crossed the chamber as MPs began to leave the house, pointed at rising young opposition star Sam Basil, and shouted in Pidgin: "If you were outside, I would kill you." He was constrained by his son, Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare. This is the second year running that he has avoided a no-confidence challenge by simply shutting parliament down. But this time, he is also likely to face a legal challenge, with a strengthened yet bitterly frustrated opposition claiming they were robbed by a ruse in which the Speaker, Jeffery Nape -- a member of Sir Michael's National Alliance party -- played a crucial role. Legal appeals may come over the nature of Mr Nape's ruling in parliament, and the consequent fa

ROWAN CALLICK - THE AUSTRALIAN PAPUA New Guinea's wily, veteran fox of a Prime Minister, Michael Somare, contrived yesterday to escape what seemed a likely sudden political death by having parliament adjourned until November. Buoyed by his win, Sir Michael, 74, crossed the chamber as MPs began to leave the house, pointed at rising young opposition star Sam Basil, and shouted in Pidgin: "If you were outside, I would kill you." He was constrained by his son, Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare. This is the second year running that he has avoided a no-confidence challenge by simply shutting parliament down. But this time, he is also likely to face a legal challenge, with a strengthened yet bitterly frustrated opposition claiming they were robbed by a ruse in which the Speaker, Jeffery Nape -- a member of Sir Michael's National Alliance party -- played a crucial role. Legal appeals may come over the nature of Mr Nape's ruling in parliament, and the con

NATIONAL EDITORIAL THE government of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare gained itself a three-month reprieve from a serious challenge to his leadership. Parliament stands adjourned to November but, what relieve the government might have earned, it will not be enjoyed by the prime minister himself. His challenge has only just begun. His leadership is challenged not only from without but, more importantly, from within. It is highly likely he will not take the National Alliance to the 2012 general elections as its head. Signs of the strain were already evident yesterday when, as parliament was rising, the PM pointed across at Bulolo MP Sam Basil and told him: “Bai mi kilim yu autsait (I will kill you outside).” However way it is interpreted, and however hard the prime minister’s media unit tries to dilute the intentions of the PM, the threat remains and is unbecoming of an elder statesman, a man famously described as the “father of the nation”. While three ministries have been volunteered to

NATIONAL EDITORIAL THE government of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare gained itself a three-month reprieve from a serious challenge to his leadership. Parliament stands adjourned to November but, what relieve the government might have earned, it will not be enjoyed by the prime minister himself. His challenge has only just begun. His leadership is challenged not only from without but, more importantly, from within. It is highly likely he will not take the National Alliance to the 2012 general elections as its head. Signs of the strain were already evident yesterday when, as parliament was rising, the PM pointed across at Bulolo MP Sam Basil and told him: “Bai mi kilim yu autsait (I will kill you outside).” However way it is interpreted, and however hard the prime minister’s media unit tries to dilute the intentions of the PM, the threat remains and is unbecoming of an elder statesman, a man famously described as the “father of the nation”. While three ministries have been volunteered t

NATIONAL REPORTS FORMER forest minister Belden Namah yesterday raised serious allegations of corruption and questionable deals involving some government ministers. The prime minister tried to get the speaker to stop Namah raising the allegations publicly in parliament, claiming the former minister could not divulge confidential cabinet information for five years. But, speaker Jeffery Nape allowed Namah to speak out. Namah, former deputy prime minister Sir Puka Temu and culture and tourism minister Charles Abel walked out of government on Monday and were sacked by the prime minister yesterday. When parliament resumed after 2pm, the three walked in with the opposition and sat in the opposition’s middle benches. During question time, Namah told parliament he was fed up with corruption in government, and decided to walk out. The Vanimo-Green MP alleged a number of corrupt practices by the Border Development Authority (BDA). One of them involved buying boats at inflated prices. He said the

NATIONAL REPORTS FORMER forest minister Belden Namah yesterday raised serious allegations of corruption and questionable deals involving some government ministers. The prime minister tried to get the speaker to stop Namah raising the allegations publicly in parliament, claiming the former minister could not divulge confidential cabinet information for five years. But, speaker Jeffery Nape allowed Namah to speak out. Namah, former deputy prime minister Sir Puka Temu and culture and tourism minister Charles Abel walked out of government on Monday and were sacked by the prime minister yesterday. When parliament resumed after 2pm, the three walked in with the opposition and sat in the opposition’s middle benches. During question time, Namah told parliament he was fed up with corruption in government, and decided to walk out. The Vanimo-Green MP alleged a number of corrupt practices by the Border Development Authority (BDA). One of them involved buying boats at inflated prices. He

NIUGINI PRESS SIR Michael Thomas Somare is not new to political challenges. Throughout his illustrious career as the longest-serving member of parliament in the Commonwealth, controversy has never been too far behind him. He has lost almost all the challenges that have been directed at him on the floor of parliament but, at the same time, he has won, both on his own and for his party and followers, every single election he has contested. He might not be popular with the leaders, but he is certainly the most popular leader in Papua New Guinea – from the highlands to the coast and surrounding islands. Yesterday, as he faced the suggestion of yet another struggle and as he struggled to defend his decision to appoint his son as Finance and Treasury minister, his voice faltered. As is often said of great people, you can defend others but not yourself. Arthur Somare, three-time member for Angoram (which makes him one of the most senior members in the National Alliance party after the prime m