PNGBLOGS

The Commonwealth bloc of nations has called on Papua New Guinea to respect the rule of law and the judiciary’s independence after its chief justice was charged with sedition. The Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma urged restraint in a country embroiled in a messy political deadlock where both Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and former prime minister Sir Michael Somare have declared themselves the rightful leader. On Monday the Supreme Court ruled for the second time that Mr O’Neill’s rise to power while Sir Michael was recovering from illness was illegal and that he should be reinstated. Mr O’Neill claimed the judiciary was biased and rejected the decision, leading Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah and 10 police to storm the court Thursday and arrest Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia. Papua New Guinea police confirmed Sir Salamo had been charged with sedition and appeared in court Friday morning. Later on Friday, reports also came in that a group of about 20 police had blocked t

The Commonwealth bloc of nations has called on Papua New Guinea to respect the rule of law and the judiciary’s independence after its chief justice was charged with sedition. The Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma urged restraint in a country embroiled in a messy political deadlock where both Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and former prime minister Sir Michael Somare have declared themselves the rightful leader. On Monday the Supreme Court ruled for the second time that Mr O’Neill’s rise to power while Sir Michael was recovering from illness was illegal and that he should be reinstated. Mr O’Neill claimed the judiciary was biased and rejected the decision, leading Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah and 10 police to storm the court Thursday and arrest Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia. Papua New Guinea police confirmed Sir Salamo had been charged with sedition and appeared in court Friday morning. Later on Friday, reports also came in that a group of about 20 police h

Papua New Guinea's governor-general has washed his hands of both sides of the nation's political dispute, with his office saying he will not sign any documents until a government is formed after the election. A senior member of the office of Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio says the head of state has refused to sign any documents presented by parliamentary elected prime minister Peter O'Neill or from his court-appointed rival for the top job, Sir Michael Somare. The spokesman says the governor-general has also refused to sign an instrument recalling parliament for a special sitting last week in which the government voted for a state of emergency in three provinces including the capital, Port Moresby "No documents have been received by the governor-general and that includes the state of emergency (declared by parliament on Friday)," the spokesman, who declined to be named, told AAP on Sunday. He said Sir Michael Ogio had refused to sign the document approving Frid

Papua New Guinea's governor-general has washed his hands of both sides of the nation's political dispute, with his office saying he will not sign any documents until a government is formed after the election. A senior member of the office of Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio says the head of state has refused to sign any documents presented by parliamentary elected prime minister Peter O'Neill or from his court-appointed rival for the top job, Sir Michael Somare. The spokesman says the governor-general has also refused to sign an instrument recalling parliament for a special sitting last week in which the government voted for a state of emergency in three provinces including the capital, Port Moresby "No documents have been received by the governor-general and that includes the state of emergency (declared by parliament on Friday)," the spokesman, who declined to be named, told AAP on Sunday. He said Sir Michael Ogio had refused to sign the document approving

PAPUA New Guinea MPs have voted to declare a state of emergency in the nation's capital after rogue police officers surrounded Parliament House. If adopted, the emergency rule would give increased powers to PNG's police commissioner to arrest and detain. The leader of government business, Moses Maladina, put the motion yesterday at a special sitting of Parliament and it is expected to come into force today. The government also voted to reject the decision of three Supreme Court judges to reinstate Sir Michael Somare as the nation's leader. Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said cabinet would meet last night to prepare advice for Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio, who must approve the state of emergency. Mr O'Neill said the state of emergency would be extended to trouble spots such as the Southern Highlands and Hela province, site of a multibillion-dollar liquefied natural gas project. ''This has never happened in our country since the Sandline crisis of 1996,'

PAPUA New Guinea MPs have voted to declare a state of emergency in the nation's capital after rogue police officers surrounded Parliament House. If adopted, the emergency rule would give increased powers to PNG's police commissioner to arrest and detain. The leader of government business, Moses Maladina, put the motion yesterday at a special sitting of Parliament and it is expected to come into force today. The government also voted to reject the decision of three Supreme Court judges to reinstate Sir Michael Somare as the nation's leader. Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said cabinet would meet last night to prepare advice for Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio, who must approve the state of emergency. Mr O'Neill said the state of emergency would be extended to trouble spots such as the Southern Highlands and Hela province, site of a multibillion-dollar liquefied natural gas project. ''This has never happened in our country since the Sandline crisi

Australia urged restraint on Thursday in Papua New Guinea after police arrested the country's chief justice and attempted to charge him with sedition. The poverty-stricken but hugely resource-rich country has been stuck in a political impasse for months with the Supreme Court ruling again this week that Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's rise to power was illegal. It said veteran leader Sir Michael Somare should be reinstated. O'Neill claimed the judiciary was biased and rejected the decision, which led Thursday to Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah and 10 police storming into the court to arrest Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia. ABC radio reported from the capital Port Moresby that after more than two hours of negotiations, police escorted Injia to a courtroom for a formal interview. Assistant commissioner Thomas Eluh said he expected to charge him with sedition after Namah warned Injia and two other judges who handed down this week's ruling they should resi

Australia urged restraint on Thursday in Papua New Guinea after police arrested the country's chief justice and attempted to charge him with sedition. The poverty-stricken but hugely resource-rich country has been stuck in a political impasse for months with the Supreme Court ruling again this week that Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's rise to power was illegal. It said veteran leader Sir Michael Somare should be reinstated. O'Neill claimed the judiciary was biased and rejected the decision, which led Thursday to Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah and 10 police storming into the court to arrest Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia. ABC radio reported from the capital Port Moresby that after more than two hours of negotiations, police escorted Injia to a courtroom for a formal interview. Assistant commissioner Thomas Eluh said he expected to charge him with sedition after Namah warned Injia and two other judges who handed down this week's ruling they should

FOUR candidates including Governor Sir Julius Chan have so far nominated to contest the New Ireland Regional Seat. Sir Julius nominated last Friday under the Peoples Progress Party banner which was witnessed by thousands of people who gathered at the Kavieng District Office. Armed with a traditional spear and a beautifully decorated headdress, Sir Julius went in to nominate accompanied by former Prime Minister and candidate for the Western Highlands Regional Seat Paias Wingti, PPP Candidate for the Kavieng Open Seat Ben Micah and PPP National President Brown Sinamoi. Traditional singsing groups from all over the province were also present to entertain the crowd and celebrate Sir Julius’ nomination. Speeches were made soon after his nomination followed by more traditional dances. Mr Wingti was also able to close the Council of Elders meeting that was held in Kavieng and attended by 180 elders from around the province. New Ireland Electoral Manager Edward Konu said the other three candid