PNGBLOGS

Papua New Guinea's political impasse has rattled along for nine months with barely a week passing without some constitutional or national crisis. Having two prime ministers, two cabinets, two governors-general, two police commissioners and at one point – during a short-lived mutiny at army headquarters – two military commanders has brought a new level of uncertainty, even by this country's standards. While most of PNG's public institutions have supported the administration of Peter O'Neill, the standoff over who is the legitimate government has undermined the Melanesian country's democratic pillars. If there was initial enthusiasm for the new-look government after the parliamentary ousting of long-time prime minister Sir Michael Somare, a subsequent arm-wrestle between O'Neill's coalition and the judiciary, as well as moves to defer elections, have eroded much of that. Repeated attempts by the O'Neill government to remove the chief justice, Sir Salamo In

Papua New Guinea's political impasse has rattled along for nine months with barely a week passing without some constitutional or national crisis. Having two prime ministers, two cabinets, two governors-general, two police commissioners and at one point – during a short-lived mutiny at army headquarters – two military commanders has brought a new level of uncertainty, even by this country's standards. While most of PNG's public institutions have supported the administration of Peter O'Neill, the standoff over who is the legitimate government has undermined the Melanesian country's democratic pillars. If there was initial enthusiasm for the new-look government after the parliamentary ousting of long-time prime minister Sir Michael Somare, a subsequent arm-wrestle between O'Neill's coalition and the judiciary, as well as moves to defer elections, have eroded much of that. Repeated attempts by the O'Neill government to remove the chief justice, Sir Salamo

If this was a news release by a geologist, alarm bells would be ringing around the Pacific and international scientific community. But retitle it “Pacific politics tilting to PNG” and the alarm bells would be ringing in Samoa, Tonga and the Cooks (as I am sure they already are). However, if Papua New Guinea ever decides to flex its burgeoning muscles, encouraged by a belligerent Fiji, the alarm bells would be ringing loudest in Canberra and Wellington. Without doubt, Pacific politics is tilting towards the west, drawn by the all-powerful and inexorable gravitational forces of the massive LNG and other minerals wealth being generated in Papua New Guinea (and in West Papua – another sorry saga). Pacific regional initiatives such as PICTA and EPAs with the European Union (administered by Forum Secretariat in Suva) or PACER Plus (administered through the Office of the Chief Trade Adviser in Vila) are going to be largely eclipsed by the Melanesian Spearhead Group of PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islan

If this was a news release by a geologist, alarm bells would be ringing around the Pacific and international scientific community. But retitle it “Pacific politics tilting to PNG” and the alarm bells would be ringing in Samoa, Tonga and the Cooks (as I am sure they already are). However, if Papua New Guinea ever decides to flex its burgeoning muscles, encouraged by a belligerent Fiji, the alarm bells would be ringing loudest in Canberra and Wellington. Without doubt, Pacific politics is tilting towards the west, drawn by the all-powerful and inexorable gravitational forces of the massive LNG and other minerals wealth being generated in Papua New Guinea (and in West Papua – another sorry saga). Pacific regional initiatives such as PICTA and EPAs with the European Union (administered by Forum Secretariat in Suva) or PACER Plus (administered through the Office of the Chief Trade Adviser in Vila) are going to be largely eclipsed by the Melanesian Spearhead Group of PNG, Fiji, Solom

Kilman , looking at removing the Wesminster system of government in Vanuatu The culture of school yard bullying is very much alive in Canberra, and every now and then shows its ugly head in the diplomatic discourses between Australia and its Pacific hosts.  Bullying is a cultural phenomenon as much as it is a sociological malaise predominant in the English public school system in the form of crude ritualistic excesses by persons who practise it as a rite of passage to perpetuate exclusion, inclusion and or even acceptability. It is a deep form of social ill that in itself may not necessarily and immediately yield the reasons for a quick fix or solution. It has much to do with identity as much as belonging, but more often than not it has to do with lack of identity than anything else. And on the national stage of a country such as Australia, this is a deeply rooted problem in the psyche of Australia as a nation, and Australians as a people.  They do not belong here in our Pacific. They

Kilman , looking at removing the Wesminster system of government in Vanuatu The culture of school yard bullying is very much alive in Canberra, and every now and then shows its ugly head in the diplomatic discourses between Australia and its Pacific hosts.  Bullying is a cultural phenomenon as much as it is a sociological malaise predominant in the English public school system in the form of crude ritualistic excesses by persons who practise it as a rite of passage to perpetuate exclusion, inclusion and or even acceptability. It is a deep form of social ill that in itself may not necessarily and immediately yield the reasons for a quick fix or solution. It has much to do with identity as much as belonging, but more often than not it has to do with lack of identity than anything else. And on the national stage of a country such as Australia, this is a deeply rooted problem in the psyche of Australia as a nation, and Australians as a people.  They do not belong here in our

A task force set up to investigate corruption in Papua New Guinea says unscrupulous 'mobsters,' including members of parliament, are undermining the South Pacific country's development. Investigators arrested 35 people including several current and former members of parliament and other public servants. The anti-graft unit was established by Prime Minister Peter O'Neill to investigate allegations of corruption in key government departments, such as the Department of Health and the influential Department of National Planning and Monitoring. Former Prime Minister Michael Somare accused the task force of carrying out a "witch hunt."  However, Sam Koim, chairman of the anti-graft unit known as Task Force Sweep, said corrupt officials had turned the South Pacific country's constitutional democracy into a "Mobocracy." "Generally [in] our investigations we have discovered a frightening trend of corruption in this country," said

A task force set up to investigate corruption in Papua New Guinea says unscrupulous 'mobsters,' including members of parliament, are undermining the South Pacific country's development. Investigators arrested 35 people including several current and former members of parliament and other public servants. The anti-graft unit was established by Prime Minister Peter O'Neill to investigate allegations of corruption in key government departments, such as the Department of Health and the influential Department of National Planning and Monitoring. Former Prime Minister Michael Somare accused the task force of carrying out a "witch hunt."  However, Sam Koim, chairman of the anti-graft unit known as Task Force Sweep, said corrupt officials had turned the South Pacific country's constitutional democracy into a "Mobocracy." "Generally [in] our investigations we have discovered a frightening trend of corruption in this country,"

WITH a little over a month to go before the general election, a spate of reports in the media regarding the conduct of security and police personnel is a cause for concern. From police officers assaulting their own to the beating and injuring of innocent civilians, our so-called disciplined forces are anything but a picture of proper conduct. But they will need to be if they are to win the public’s trust and confidence over the coming weeks. Still, we see the very people who are trained to serve, protect and defend us are prone to violence when it would be better for the law to take its course. The latest incident occurred at the 5-Mile settlement in Port Moresby last Sunday morning. A group of PNG Defence Force soldiers from Taurama Barracks arrived unannounced and set about assaulting residents and damaging property. Shell-shocked families said afterwards that the act was apparently in retaliation to an incident the previous Saturday where a soldier from the aforementione