PNGBLOGS

OP/ED A community leader from Mt Hagen rang this newspaper last night to confirm what he heard on the radio - was it really true that a leadership tribunal had been set up to hear allegations of misconduct in office against the Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare? The call from this leader in the mountains might just have been another curious member of the public but more significantly, it shows the interest with which ordinary Papua New Guineans have in this particular case. The Prime Minister’s referral has been in the public domain for such a long time it has often been used as a political weapon against the Prime Minister by his opponents, for which there are many, because he has vigorously fought it legally. This remote community leader, far flung from the corridors of powers of Waigani, shows how Papua New Guineans country-wide have watched and waited for an outcome such as announced yesterday afternoon by the Chief Justice after a long time – a Leadership Tribunal to h

OP/ED A community leader from Mt Hagen rang this newspaper last night to confirm what he heard on the radio - was it really true that a leadership tribunal had been set up to hear allegations of misconduct in office against the Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare? The call from this leader in the mountains might just have been another curious member of the public but more significantly, it shows the interest with which ordinary Papua New Guineans have in this particular case. The Prime Minister’s referral has been in the public domain for such a long time it has often been used as a political weapon against the Prime Minister by his opponents, for which there are many, because he has vigorously fought it legally. This remote community leader, far flung from the corridors of powers of Waigani, shows how Papua New Guineans country-wide have watched and waited for an outcome such as announced yesterday afternoon by the Chief Justice after a long time – a Leadership Tribunal t

RADIO AUSTRALIA A prominent Papua New Guinean prosecutor has been demoted not long after pursuing allegations of misconduct against the Prime Minister. Late last year, the acting public prosecutor Jim Wala Tamate sought to have a tribunal hear allegations Sir Michael Somare failed to lodge several financial statements. But last week he was replaced as public prosecutor; PNG's opposition says it was because of his pursuit of Sir Michael. But the Attorney-General Sir Arnold Ahmet says Mr Tamate's position was not renewed because of "performance issues". Presenter: Liam Fox, PNG Correspondent Speaker: Sir Arnold Ahmet, PNG Attorney General Listen: Windows Media SIR ARNOLD AHMET: The position of public prosecutor has been in acting mode for nearly two years which is quite inappropriate. The process that began in November-December last year. An advertisement went out for applicants. There were nine applicants, so a decision had to be made by the Judicial and Legal Services

RADIO AUSTRALIA A prominent Papua New Guinean prosecutor has been demoted not long after pursuing allegations of misconduct against the Prime Minister. Late last year, the acting public prosecutor Jim Wala Tamate sought to have a tribunal hear allegations Sir Michael Somare failed to lodge several financial statements. But last week he was replaced as public prosecutor; PNG's opposition says it was because of his pursuit of Sir Michael. But the Attorney-General Sir Arnold Ahmet says Mr Tamate's position was not renewed because of "performance issues". Presenter: Liam Fox, PNG Correspondent Speaker: Sir Arnold Ahmet, PNG Attorney General Listen: Windows Media SIR ARNOLD AHMET: The position of public prosecutor has been in acting mode for nearly two years which is quite inappropriate. The process that began in November-December last year. An advertisement went out for applicants. There were nine applicants, so a decision had to be made by the Judicial and Leg

SAM BASIL MP Today is a sad day for PNG as people whom we had hopes on have been contaminated, and our hopes crushed. The former Chief Justice could have given a better reason than being defensive for the PM over the Leadership Tribunal. Look at how he described the reasons for the removal of Mr Tamata. He said Mr. Tamata was removed for non performance but failed to outline what sort of lack of performance. Did he mismanage the office? If so, what are the examples? Did he not do his constitutional duty? What are some examples? Was he cited for contempt for not allocating lawyers to attend to criminal cases/call-overs like his Predecessors? So what are the reasons at this very crucial moment when the whole nation is looking forward to see justice prevail? Can the former Chief Justice as a learned person justify his actions because you cannot afford to leave the people of PNG guessing? Otherwise, Sir Arnold is just another puppet, executing the PM and his family’s will and the only con

SAM BASIL MP Today is a sad day for PNG as people whom we had hopes on have been contaminated, and our hopes crushed. The former Chief Justice could have given a better reason than being defensive for the PM over the Leadership Tribunal. Look at how he described the reasons for the removal of Mr Tamata. He said Mr. Tamata was removed for non performance but failed to outline what sort of lack of performance. Did he mismanage the office? If so, what are the examples? Did he not do his constitutional duty? What are some examples? Was he cited for contempt for not allocating lawyers to attend to criminal cases/call-overs like his Predecessors? So what are the reasons at this very crucial moment when the whole nation is looking forward to see justice prevail? Can the former Chief Justice as a learned person justify his actions because you cannot afford to leave the people of PNG guessing? Otherwise, Sir Arnold is just another puppet, executing the PM and his family’s will and the onl

SAM BASIL MP The issue of the damage to the Watut and the people who rely upon it for their very existence and the resulting court case should not be the subject of a publicity-seeking talkfest proposed by Member for Huon Gulf Hon. Sasa Zibe. The question of liability of MMJV for the damage is before the Courts and Minister Zibe’s conduct would be in contempt of Court. Where was Sasa Zibe when the people he represents in Parliament were crying for help throughout 2009  and 2010 as their river had been destroyed? Where was he when they were complaining that the fish were dead, that they couldn’t use the river for transport as the overburden from the mine had made the river too shallow?” Authorities have been signed by landowners of the Lower Watut region, which is in his electorate, for me to represent them in the court case against MMJV as Sasa Zibe did nothing to help them. Now the mining company is putting the pressure on as the Court case has started, Sasa Zibe is trying to get hi

SAM BASIL MP The issue of the damage to the Watut and the people who rely upon it for their very existence and the resulting court case should not be the subject of a publicity-seeking talkfest proposed by Member for Huon Gulf Hon. Sasa Zibe. The question of liability of MMJV for the damage is before the Courts and Minister Zibe’s conduct would be in contempt of Court. Where was Sasa Zibe when the people he represents in Parliament were crying for help throughout 2009  and 2010 as their river had been destroyed? Where was he when they were complaining that the fish were dead, that they couldn’t use the river for transport as the overburden from the mine had made the river too shallow?” Authorities have been signed by landowners of the Lower Watut region, which is in his electorate, for me to represent them in the court case against MMJV as Sasa Zibe did nothing to help them. Now the mining company is putting the pressure on as the Court case has started, Sasa Zibe is trying to ge

OP/ED A meeting of senior police officers is underway in Mt Hagen to discuss the security aspect of the 2012 national elections. One of the topics that came up, again and again in that meeting, is the prevalence of firearms and the threat they pose on the elections. To show the police bosses the seriousness of the matter, Mt Hagen Police showed the police chiefs two M16 rifles, five other factory-made guns, and eight military issued grenades confiscated from raids into villages around this highlands city. The demonstration was to send a clear message to the top brass of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary that the accumulation of illegal firearms in the Highlands is a real threat to the coming national elections. Guns have left thousands traumatised and have the seriously grave potential to bring Papua New Guinea down to its knees. Statistics compiled by the police force, show that there is overwhelming evidence that the majority of serious crimes like robbery, break and enter and