PNGBLOGS

Two senior government ministers in Papua New Guinea are expected to hand themselves into police after warrants were issued for their arrest last Friday. The Supreme Court ordered the arrest of deputy prime minister Belden Namah and attorney-general Allan Marat on contempt charges. That followed the government's suspension of the chief justice for what it said are serious allegations of misconduct. A government source says the ministers will present themselves to police headquarters in Port Moresby this morning. A police spokesman also says police are expecting their arrival. While the court ordered the ministers be held until December 12, the ABC understands they will be seeking to be released on bail. The Supreme Court also placed a stay on the chief justice's suspension. ABC

Two senior government ministers in Papua New Guinea are expected to hand themselves into police after warrants were issued for their arrest last Friday. The Supreme Court ordered the arrest of deputy prime minister Belden Namah and attorney-general Allan Marat on contempt charges. That followed the government's suspension of the chief justice for what it said are serious allegations of misconduct. A government source says the ministers will present themselves to police headquarters in Port Moresby this morning. A police spokesman also says police are expecting their arrival. While the court ordered the ministers be held until December 12, the ABC understands they will be seeking to be released on bail. The Supreme Court also placed a stay on the chief justice's suspension. ABC

PAPUA New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says a Supreme Court arrest warrant for his deputy prime minister and attorney-general has set a "dangerous precedent". It's his first public statement since the potential executive-judicial crisis erupted on Thursday. But he denies the incident that started the affair - the suspension of Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia on Thursday - has anything to do with his impending verdict in an ongoing constitutional battle over the legitimacy of the O'Neill government. "(It is) the executive government's collective right to make national interest decisions - including decisions relating to members of the judiciary collectively or individually," Mr O'Neill said in a statement from Honolulu, where he is attending the APEC summit. "The National Executive Council (NEC) should not be usurped by the threat of warrants of arrest for members of the NEC." Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah announced the

PAPUA New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says a Supreme Court arrest warrant for his deputy prime minister and attorney-general has set a "dangerous precedent". It's his first public statement since the potential executive-judicial crisis erupted on Thursday. But he denies the incident that started the affair - the suspension of Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia on Thursday - has anything to do with his impending verdict in an ongoing constitutional battle over the legitimacy of the O'Neill government. "(It is) the executive government's collective right to make national interest decisions - including decisions relating to members of the judiciary collectively or individually," Mr O'Neill said in a statement from Honolulu, where he is attending the APEC summit. "The National Executive Council (NEC) should not be usurped by the threat of warrants of arrest for members of the NEC." Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah annou

NAMAH: No one is above the law The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea should bury his head in shame and consider himself a total disgrace before heads of Government of countries in attendance for the APEC summit in Hawaii. He should perhaps be also met with some of the toughest of rebukes from advocacy groups in Hawaii for his anti- constitutional democracy antics. He attends a summit which is attended by prominent leaders of the world who hold an high regard for constitutional democracy and the independence of their judiciary systems in their Countries. Peter O Neil’s recently concocted move, engineered to be announced by his deputy after his exit from the Country to attend this high powered meeting, must be condemned in the strongest possible term and squarely pinned on his hands. He should be shameful of his actions and consider himself a misfit amongst all the level-headed leaders of the World in attendance of the Summit. Perhaps Australia’s Julia Gillard should re-echo her famous

NAMAH: No one is above the law The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea should bury his head in shame and consider himself a total disgrace before heads of Government of countries in attendance for the APEC summit in Hawaii. He should perhaps be also met with some of the toughest of rebukes from advocacy groups in Hawaii for his anti- constitutional democracy antics. He attends a summit which is attended by prominent leaders of the world who hold an high regard for constitutional democracy and the independence of their judiciary systems in their Countries. Peter O Neil’s recently concocted move, engineered to be announced by his deputy after his exit from the Country to attend this high powered meeting, must be condemned in the strongest possible term and squarely pinned on his hands. He should be shameful of his actions and consider himself a misfit amongst all the level-headed leaders of the World in attendance of the Summit. Perhaps Australia’s Julia Gillard should re-echo her

WARRANTS OF ARREST ISSUED FOR Deputy PM AND Attorney General by Supreme Courts   A bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of acting prime minister Belden Namah and attorney-general Allan Marat for contempt of court. Yesterday the PNG government took the drastic step of suspending Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia. Acting prime minister Namah said “overwhelming allegations” had been made against Sir Salamo, forcing the government to act. The suspension came at a sensitive time when the full bench of the Supreme Court is considering a challenge to the government's legitimacy after the 2 August election of Peter O’Neill as prime minister, which is being challenged in the court.   -Supreme Court Ruling Papua New Guinea IN THE SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE AT WAIGANI SC REF NO.3 OF 2011 BETWEEN: REFERENCE PURSUANT TO CONSTITUTION SECTION 19 AND: REFERENCE BY THE EAST SEPIK PROVINCAL EXECUTIVE -Referrer- AND: HON. DR ALLAN MARAT, MP as the Minister for Justice and Attorney Genera