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Picture: Stuart Mcevoy The Australian Sir Michael failed in his bid to have the nation's governor-general swear in his cabinet, after police refused to let him enter Government House. Sir Michael, 76, was ordered back to power on Monday by three of the five Supreme Court justices overseeing hearings into the legitimacy of the government of Peter O'Neill. Two judges refused to participate in the judgment. Sir Michael arrived at Government House in Port Moresby about 3pm yesterday, but was prevented from entering the grounds by about 30 policemen guarding the front gate. After waiting inside a dark blue Mercedes Benz for about five minutes, the man known as the Grand Chief was driven away from Government House back to the Ela Beach Hotel in central Port Moresby. Sir Michael's choice for attorney-general, Sir Arnold Amet, had told journalists earlier yesterday Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio had agreed to swear in the Somare cabinet. "The prime minister, Sir Michael, r

Picture: Stuart Mcevoy The Australian Sir Michael failed in his bid to have the nation's governor-general swear in his cabinet, after police refused to let him enter Government House. Sir Michael, 76, was ordered back to power on Monday by three of the five Supreme Court justices overseeing hearings into the legitimacy of the government of Peter O'Neill. Two judges refused to participate in the judgment. Sir Michael arrived at Government House in Port Moresby about 3pm yesterday, but was prevented from entering the grounds by about 30 policemen guarding the front gate. After waiting inside a dark blue Mercedes Benz for about five minutes, the man known as the Grand Chief was driven away from Government House back to the Ela Beach Hotel in central Port Moresby. Sir Michael's choice for attorney-general, Sir Arnold Amet, had told journalists earlier yesterday Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio had agreed to swear in the Somare cabinet. "The prime minister

PAPUA New Guinea's Supreme Court has again ordered the return of Sir Michael Somare to the prime ministership. The country's parliament has been recalled for a special sitting today in response to the controversial ruling yesterday, which came as candidates began campaigning in earnest for the June national elections. Two of the five judges abstained from making a ruling, with Justice Bernard Sakora saying that to participate would contradict his oath as a judge. Three judges - chief justice Sir Salamo Injia, Les Gavara-Nanu and Nicholas Kerriwom - ruled yesterday that Sir Michael remained an MP despite being dumped last year and that Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's ascension to the top job remained unconstitutional. Sir Salamo said the decision was legally binding and should be obeyed by public servants, government agencies and the Speaker of parliament. Mr O'Neill, who yesterday was in his Southern Highlands electorate of Ialibu-Pangia for his nomination as a candi

PAPUA New Guinea's Supreme Court has again ordered the return of Sir Michael Somare to the prime ministership. The country's parliament has been recalled for a special sitting today in response to the controversial ruling yesterday, which came as candidates began campaigning in earnest for the June national elections. Two of the five judges abstained from making a ruling, with Justice Bernard Sakora saying that to participate would contradict his oath as a judge. Three judges - chief justice Sir Salamo Injia, Les Gavara-Nanu and Nicholas Kerriwom - ruled yesterday that Sir Michael remained an MP despite being dumped last year and that Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's ascension to the top job remained unconstitutional. Sir Salamo said the decision was legally binding and should be obeyed by public servants, government agencies and the Speaker of parliament. Mr O'Neill, who yesterday was in his Southern Highlands electorate of Ialibu-Pangia for his nomination as a can

Supreme Court has recognised GC Somare as the legit PM. Peter O'Neill and his government has chosen to ignore the court decision and are recalling Parliament to a special sitting at 10am tomorrow! The supreme court left it too late. Timing is just not right. The Supreme Court ruling is not being helpful in terms of time.  Nevertheless Parliament has been disolved and everyone is in election mode so let the people elect a new Government but we wait in haste to hear what will be done tomorrow when Parliament meets.  More updates as we recieve them tonight UPDATE FROM FIRMIN NANOL (Radio Australia)  Somare government restored again tonight and O'Neill-Namah faction refusing to recognise the Supreme Court court ruling. Have recalled parliament for special session at 10 am tomorrow. Assured the nation elections will go ahead. Police told to investigate the Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia and Justice Nicholas Kiriwom.  In a twist of events, two senior members of the b

Supreme Court has recognised GC Somare as the legit PM. Peter O'Neill and his government has chosen to ignore the court decision and are recalling Parliament to a special sitting at 10am tomorrow! The supreme court left it too late. Timing is just not right. The Supreme Court ruling is not being helpful in terms of time.  Nevertheless Parliament has been disolved and everyone is in election mode so let the people elect a new Government but we wait in haste to hear what will be done tomorrow when Parliament meets.  More updates as we recieve them tonight UPDATE FROM FIRMIN NANOL (Radio Australia)  Somare government restored again tonight and O'Neill-Namah faction refusing to recognise the Supreme Court court ruling. Have recalled parliament for special session at 10 am tomorrow. Assured the nation elections will go ahead. Police told to investigate the Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia and Justice Nicholas Kiriwom.  In a twist of events, two senior m

PAPUA New Guinea's controversial deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah has emerged as a possible white knight in Gold Coast boss Michael Searle's last-ditch plan to save the financially-stricken Titans. The development comes as Searle broke a two-month silence on the club's fiscal crisis yesterday, apologising to fans and revealing his and the Titans' future may hinge on securing fresh funds from a mystery backer. Insolvency firm KordaMentha issued a creditors' report on the Titans' property arm on Friday, revealing the company, of which Searle is sole director, has operated at a loss since 2008 with debts as high as $26 million. The report also questions whether the company traded while insolvent, an assessment Searle vehemently rejected yesterday. "I would not wish this on my worst enemy," Searle told the Gold Coast Bulletin before he fronted around 800 fans at the annual Titans Charity Ball at Jupiters Casino last night. "I think there will always

PAPUA New Guinea's controversial deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah has emerged as a possible white knight in Gold Coast boss Michael Searle's last-ditch plan to save the financially-stricken Titans. The development comes as Searle broke a two-month silence on the club's fiscal crisis yesterday, apologising to fans and revealing his and the Titans' future may hinge on securing fresh funds from a mystery backer. Insolvency firm KordaMentha issued a creditors' report on the Titans' property arm on Friday, revealing the company, of which Searle is sole director, has operated at a loss since 2008 with debts as high as $26 million. The report also questions whether the company traded while insolvent, an assessment Searle vehemently rejected yesterday. "I would not wish this on my worst enemy," Searle told the Gold Coast Bulletin before he fronted around 800 fans at the annual Titans Charity Ball at Jupiters Casino last night. "I think there

There are a few people on this site trying their best to distract and detract from the conversation and the real issues raised by this article. It is a deliberate attempt to hi-jack the conversation, and I think we know why. We are reminded by Onecountry in stark and contrasting language of the depths and the widths of this identity crisis that Australia as a nation struggles with. Its relations with its neighbours is one of disdainful contempt, and of oppression. The incidence of Mr Marae's arrest clearly demonstrates Australia has no regard for the rule of law and diplomatic protocol. Indeed it would use the law as a tool when it suits it, and disregard it whenever it desires. Mr Marae's prosecution is likely to fail because the Australian government clearly engaged in a kidnap of Mr Marae. There is a very enlightening article by Patrick Oconnor in the Fiji Sun this week and the link is http://www.fijisun.com.fj/2012/05/19/now-a-moti-row-repeat/ . In this article Mr Oconnor

There are a few people on this site trying their best to distract and detract from the conversation and the real issues raised by this article. It is a deliberate attempt to hi-jack the conversation, and I think we know why. We are reminded by Onecountry in stark and contrasting language of the depths and the widths of this identity crisis that Australia as a nation struggles with. Its relations with its neighbours is one of disdainful contempt, and of oppression. The incidence of Mr Marae's arrest clearly demonstrates Australia has no regard for the rule of law and diplomatic protocol. Indeed it would use the law as a tool when it suits it, and disregard it whenever it desires. Mr Marae's prosecution is likely to fail because the Australian government clearly engaged in a kidnap of Mr Marae. There is a very enlightening article by Patrick Oconnor in the Fiji Sun this week and the link is http://www.fijisun.com.fj/2012/05/19/now-a-moti-row-repeat/ . In this article

TIGHT security and high anxiety underwrote the final sitting of Papua New Guinea's outgoing Parliament this week, with rumours running hot that an 11th-hour power play would derail the looming national election and plunge the troubled nation deeper into uncharted straits. Despite Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's efforts to douse claims that MPs seeking a delay of the poll were plotting against him, conspiracy theories electrified city-dwelling citizens anxious to use their votes to end the crippling political impasse of the past nine months. (How far such concerns resonate out in the landscape of the rural majority, where many long ago gave up on services or governance, is another story.) As MPs gathered for the showdown on Tuesday, beefed-up security and the mysterious absence of the Speaker, Jeffrey Nape, fanned suspicion that something was up. For almost two hours the burgeoning online gallery of PNG's switched-on citizenry tweeted, posted and sweated on his non-appear

TIGHT security and high anxiety underwrote the final sitting of Papua New Guinea's outgoing Parliament this week, with rumours running hot that an 11th-hour power play would derail the looming national election and plunge the troubled nation deeper into uncharted straits. Despite Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's efforts to douse claims that MPs seeking a delay of the poll were plotting against him, conspiracy theories electrified city-dwelling citizens anxious to use their votes to end the crippling political impasse of the past nine months. (How far such concerns resonate out in the landscape of the rural majority, where many long ago gave up on services or governance, is another story.) As MPs gathered for the showdown on Tuesday, beefed-up security and the mysterious absence of the Speaker, Jeffrey Nape, fanned suspicion that something was up. For almost two hours the burgeoning online gallery of PNG's switched-on citizenry tweeted, posted and sweated on his non-appear

When the old man (MTS) underwent offshore heart operations last year, the son announced the family's resolution about retiring their father from politics. However, this was utterly overturned when the frail and pale looking old man adamantly declared his intentions soon after returning from Singapore that he will relentlessly defend his post as he was still the Legal PM of the Nation. On a similar note, the daughter couple of weeks ago via Liam Fox, ABC correspondence News echoed similar family sentiment regarding their father’s exit in local politics however, this was again countered with cold reception from the old man yesterday when he announced he is still yet undecided whilst implicitly implying his intentions to run the NE.   From yesterday’s final Parliament Sitting, Dame Kidu and Sir Mek announced their last day in politics and received their well-deserved send-offs from the House however, nothing of this sort did we see forthcoming from the old man. So, it is sensible to

When the old man (MTS) underwent offshore heart operations last year, the son announced the family's resolution about retiring their father from politics. However, this was utterly overturned when the frail and pale looking old man adamantly declared his intentions soon after returning from Singapore that he will relentlessly defend his post as he was still the Legal PM of the Nation. On a similar note, the daughter couple of weeks ago via Liam Fox, ABC correspondence News echoed similar family sentiment regarding their father’s exit in local politics however, this was again countered with cold reception from the old man yesterday when he announced he is still yet undecided whilst implicitly implying his intentions to run the NE.   From yesterday’s final Parliament Sitting, Dame Kidu and Sir Mek announced their last day in politics and received their well-deserved send-offs from the House however, nothing of this sort did we see forthcoming from the old man. So, it is