PNGBLOGS

RADIO ABC A constitutional lawyer in Papua New Guinea says Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare should have automatically stepped down or be suspended, after a tribunal was set up to look into alleged misconduct in office. Doctor John Nonggorr says it's the first time in PNG's short political history a prime minister will face a leadership tribunal. The tribunal is made up of judges from the Supreme and Appeals Courts of New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. Sir Michael is alleged to have failed, or lodged incomplete annual returns to PNG's Ombudsman Commission between 1994 and 1997. The Tribunal will start the inquiry on March 10. Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare says he will comply with the laws but will remain in office and allow the tribunal to rule whether he could be suspended or not. Constitutional lawyer Doctor John Nonggorr says Sir Michael should be made to step aside until the inquiry is complete. "Clearly the leader ship tribunal says that the laws t

RADIO ABC A constitutional lawyer in Papua New Guinea says Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare should have automatically stepped down or be suspended, after a tribunal was set up to look into alleged misconduct in office. Doctor John Nonggorr says it's the first time in PNG's short political history a prime minister will face a leadership tribunal. The tribunal is made up of judges from the Supreme and Appeals Courts of New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. Sir Michael is alleged to have failed, or lodged incomplete annual returns to PNG's Ombudsman Commission between 1994 and 1997. The Tribunal will start the inquiry on March 10. Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare says he will comply with the laws but will remain in office and allow the tribunal to rule whether he could be suspended or not. Constitutional lawyer Doctor John Nonggorr says Sir Michael should be made to step aside until the inquiry is complete. "Clearly the leader ship tribunal says that the

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