PNGBLOGS

ABC Radio reports that Papua New Guinea's ruling National Alliance party has denied reports that Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is preparing to step down at the party's national convention next month, PNG's Post Courier is reporting that Sir Michael is planning to relinquish the party leadership before August 14. But party spokesperson Stephen Pokawin says those reports are false. However Mr Pokawin has confirmed the party's leadership will be the meeting's number one agenda item. Deputy leader Don Polye has reportedly announced he will make a bid for the top job. The National Alliance Party's general secretary says the party constitution restricts Sir Michael from contesting the leadership for a third time.

ABC Radio reports that Papua New Guinea's ruling National Alliance party has denied reports that Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is preparing to step down at the party's national convention next month, PNG's Post Courier is reporting that Sir Michael is planning to relinquish the party leadership before August 14. But party spokesperson Stephen Pokawin says those reports are false. However Mr Pokawin has confirmed the party's leadership will be the meeting's number one agenda item. Deputy leader Don Polye has reportedly announced he will make a bid for the top job. The National Alliance Party's general secretary says the party constitution restricts Sir Michael from contesting the leadership for a third time.

SOLOMON STAR PAPUA New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare says Pacific Island nations have an obligation to each other to share views of common interest. Sir Michael told Fiji Broadcasting Corporation he and other island leaders are at the Engaging Pacific Meeting to discuss regional issues and also talk to Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. "I’m here to also talk to Prime Minister Bainimarama and find out how things are going, and I think other leaders the same, so that we have a firm mind of what we are doing up to the Forum, as Pacific nations we have an obligation to each other and that is the reason why we are here". Sir Michael said Bainimarama is now the recognised leader of Fiji and they want to know how things are going in Fiji. “He’s a leader of his people, that’s his responsibility, to talk to us and share some views that he has, how things are going and what he is doing. “And if we have to report back to main Forum, then we will say, this is

SOLOMON STAR PAPUA New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare says Pacific Island nations have an obligation to each other to share views of common interest. Sir Michael told Fiji Broadcasting Corporation he and other island leaders are at the Engaging Pacific Meeting to discuss regional issues and also talk to Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. "I’m here to also talk to Prime Minister Bainimarama and find out how things are going, and I think other leaders the same, so that we have a firm mind of what we are doing up to the Forum, as Pacific nations we have an obligation to each other and that is the reason why we are here". Sir Michael said Bainimarama is now the recognised leader of Fiji and they want to know how things are going in Fiji. “He’s a leader of his people, that’s his responsibility, to talk to us and share some views that he has, how things are going and what he is doing. “And if we have to report back to main Forum, then we will say, this is

TUBUANS & DUKDUKS The Australian recently published an article about John Momis, the President-elect of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. There is no doubt that Momis is widely respected in both Bougainville and PNG – respect achieved through an established track record entrenched in his invaluable contribution as a founding father of PNG and an equally insatiable commitment to seeing things through. Momis has declared that number one on his priority list is the disarmament of the large number of weapons still present in the province. No doubt, the revisiting of the imminent restoration of Panguna mine is also high on the agenda. However, one issue that seems to have taken a back seat over the past few years and left to wither in the wilderness is the controversial figure Noah Musingku and his fast-money scheme, U-Vistract. I would argue that after the Bougainville Revolution and blackbirding, Musingku’s U-Vistract ranks as the next event that has had the most devastating impa

TUBUANS & DUKDUKS The Australian recently published an article about John Momis, the President-elect of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. There is no doubt that Momis is widely respected in both Bougainville and PNG – respect achieved through an established track record entrenched in his invaluable contribution as a founding father of PNG and an equally insatiable commitment to seeing things through. Momis has declared that number one on his priority list is the disarmament of the large number of weapons still present in the province. No doubt, the revisiting of the imminent restoration of Panguna mine is also high on the agenda. However, one issue that seems to have taken a back seat over the past few years and left to wither in the wilderness is the controversial figure Noah Musingku and his fast-money scheme, U-Vistract. I would argue that after the Bougainville Revolution and blackbirding, Musingku’s U-Vistract ranks as the next event that has had the most devastatin

THE AUSTRALIAN PAPUA New Guinea's veteran Prime Minister Michael Somare took the government's Falcon jet to Fiji, a favourite destination, yesterday as he celebrated escaping a threatening vote of no confidence. Before attending the "Engaging with the Pacific" meeting organised by the country's military ruler, Frank Bainimarama, Sir Michael swiftly appointed eight new ministers to shore up his majority. Five of them come from the populous Highlands region, which accounts for 40 per cent of the seats in parliament. It appeared that Sir Michael's deputy, Puka Temu, a Papuan, had pencilled in a deal with Highlands bloc leader Don Polye -- both being members of Sir Michael's National Alliance party -- to quit and form a new government. But only Sir Puka walked out, to become Opposition Leader. Mr Polye stayed behind and was rewarded with the post of Deputy Prime Minister. Sir Michael appointed long-time supporter Timothy Bonga as the Forestry Minister -- usual

THE AUSTRALIAN PAPUA New Guinea's veteran Prime Minister Michael Somare took the government's Falcon jet to Fiji, a favourite destination, yesterday as he celebrated escaping a threatening vote of no confidence. Before attending the "Engaging with the Pacific" meeting organised by the country's military ruler, Frank Bainimarama, Sir Michael swiftly appointed eight new ministers to shore up his majority. Five of them come from the populous Highlands region, which accounts for 40 per cent of the seats in parliament. It appeared that Sir Michael's deputy, Puka Temu, a Papuan, had pencilled in a deal with Highlands bloc leader Don Polye -- both being members of Sir Michael's National Alliance party -- to quit and form a new government. But only Sir Puka walked out, to become Opposition Leader. Mr Polye stayed behind and was rewarded with the post of Deputy Prime Minister. Sir Michael appointed long-time supporter Timothy Bonga as the Forestry Minis

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

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

ROWAN CALLICK PAPUA New Guinea's veteran Prime Minister Michael Somare shored up his shaky parliamentary support sufficiently to stymie plans for a vote of no confidence yesterday. But his support has deteriorated so rapidly, falling to about 60 of the 86 MPs who elected him prime minister three years ago, that he is still likely to face a challenge in the next few days, possibly as early as today. His National Alliance party is fragmenting rapidly. The gauntlet was first thrown down by Deputy Prime Minister Puka Temu, who led three other ministers out of the cabinet on Monday night. He is a medical doctor, a Papuan from Central Province near Port Moresby, who spent six years working at the Royal Melbourne and Royal Prince Alfred hospitals in Australia, before becoming permanent head of PNG's Health Department. Yesterday, Sir Puka swiftly became leader of the opposition, which had set up camp in the tradition of PNG political end-games, this time at a resort near Gaire village

ROWAN CALLICK PAPUA New Guinea's veteran Prime Minister Michael Somare shored up his shaky parliamentary support sufficiently to stymie plans for a vote of no confidence yesterday. But his support has deteriorated so rapidly, falling to about 60 of the 86 MPs who elected him prime minister three years ago, that he is still likely to face a challenge in the next few days, possibly as early as today. His National Alliance party is fragmenting rapidly. The gauntlet was first thrown down by Deputy Prime Minister Puka Temu, who led three other ministers out of the cabinet on Monday night. He is a medical doctor, a Papuan from Central Province near Port Moresby, who spent six years working at the Royal Melbourne and Royal Prince Alfred hospitals in Australia, before becoming permanent head of PNG's Health Department. Yesterday, Sir Puka swiftly became leader of the opposition, which had set up camp in the tradition of PNG political end-games, this time at a resort near G

HAMISH MCDONAL The war drums of political change are beating across the capital of Papua New Guinea, as defections and a no-confidence motion threaten the grip of the Prime Minister and ''Grand Chief'' Sir Michael Somare. Somare, 74, who led the country into independence from Australia in 1975, is in his third spell as prime minister, an unprecedented eight years marked by his equally unprecedented re-election as incumbent in 2007. He has been talking about retiring for some time, with elections due in two years. His plans are vague, but he seems to be grooming his son Arthur, the minister for state enterprises and acting treasurer, as successor. But Somare is now threatened within and without his ruling National Alliance. A powerful highlander politician, the transport minister Don Polye, has lined up for a leadership challenge. One of his deputy prime ministers, Sir Puka Temu, quit the government and joined the opposition, which yesterday was trying to launch a no con

HAMISH MCDONAL The war drums of political change are beating across the capital of Papua New Guinea, as defections and a no-confidence motion threaten the grip of the Prime Minister and ''Grand Chief'' Sir Michael Somare. Somare, 74, who led the country into independence from Australia in 1975, is in his third spell as prime minister, an unprecedented eight years marked by his equally unprecedented re-election as incumbent in 2007. He has been talking about retiring for some time, with elections due in two years. His plans are vague, but he seems to be grooming his son Arthur, the minister for state enterprises and acting treasurer, as successor. But Somare is now threatened within and without his ruling National Alliance. A powerful highlander politician, the transport minister Don Polye, has lined up for a leadership challenge. One of his deputy prime ministers, Sir Puka Temu, quit the government and joined the opposition, which yesterday was trying to launch