PNGBLOGS

2011 has been an eventful year for the whole globe in terms of political turmoil of an unprecedented level around the world. Sitting here in peaceful Pacific Ocean we were able to have a bird’s eye view of the proceedings. If we can extract any lessons from history from 2011 it is this: ORDINARY PEOPLE ARE NOT AS STUPID AS THEIR DESPOTIC LEADERS THINK. THEY POSSESS THE REMARKABLE ABILITY TO RISE UP IN SUDDEN & SURPRISING WAYS. Explosive uprisings across the Middle East have transformed the tenor of global politics and have put governments throughout the developing world on high alert. Surprisingly the government of Peter O’Neill does not seem to have learnt from the lessons of the Middle East. If readers bear with me for a minute I would like to examine the causes of what we have witnessed in the Arab countries like Egypt, Libya and Syria, where the street can go from silent to violent in practically no time. You will find that throughout history, the common thread that

Summary Further disruptions are expected as anti-government protests led by trade unions, civil society groups, NGOs and university students continue to increase political instability in the country. Postponing June’s election has the potential to aggravate tensions to the point a state of emergency may be declared. There is evidence of a proliferation of weapons across the country. Foreign workers will continue to be targeted as the LNG project continues to widen fissures within society and between tribes. Increased criminality in the short to medium term is also likely. Political Analysis The current impasse between factions led by current prime minister Peter O’Neill and deposed prime minister Sir Michael Somare occurs at a time when the fragile central state apparatus is challenged by divisions both within and outside government. This has led to a number of concerns, particularly surrounding the elections, that business operations and the general public are becoming increasing

Summary Further disruptions are expected as anti-government protests led by trade unions, civil society groups, NGOs and university students continue to increase political instability in the country. Postponing June’s election has the potential to aggravate tensions to the point a state of emergency may be declared. There is evidence of a proliferation of weapons across the country. Foreign workers will continue to be targeted as the LNG project continues to widen fissures within society and between tribes. Increased criminality in the short to medium term is also likely. Political Analysis The current impasse between factions led by current prime minister Peter O’Neill and deposed prime minister Sir Michael Somare occurs at a time when the fragile central state apparatus is challenged by divisions both within and outside government. This has led to a number of concerns, particularly surrounding the elections, that business operations and the general public are becoming

FIREARMS could be the single most influential factor in deciding election results next month. In the highlands provinces, the use of guns and other weapons by supporters and candidates is sure to take centre stage when polling day arrives. It is common knowledge that, besides being used in tribal conflicts, the possession of firearms is widely considered a sign of power and privilege. This issue has been on the radar for many years. From the 1990s onwards, the proliferation of firearms being brandished and used to intimidate and coerce voters during an election period has been widespread in the region. The trend is likely to be followed in other parts of the country, particularly the Mamose and New Guinea Islands regions. Politicians, not all but certainly a good number, are complicit in this regard. Guns have become in Papua New Guinea society the ultimate symbol of po­wer and authority. If wives, property and livestock were benchmarks by which lea­ders were judged in the past, then t

FIREARMS could be the single most influential factor in deciding election results next month. In the highlands provinces, the use of guns and other weapons by supporters and candidates is sure to take centre stage when polling day arrives. It is common knowledge that, besides being used in tribal conflicts, the possession of firearms is widely considered a sign of power and privilege. This issue has been on the radar for many years. From the 1990s onwards, the proliferation of firearms being brandished and used to intimidate and coerce voters during an election period has been widespread in the region. The trend is likely to be followed in other parts of the country, particularly the Mamose and New Guinea Islands regions. Politicians, not all but certainly a good number, are complicit in this regard. Guns have become in Papua New Guinea society the ultimate symbol of po­wer and authority. If wives, property and livestock were benchmarks by which lea­ders were judged in the past, th

People blame the Supreme Court (SC), by ordering that Sir Mike " is restored forthwith ", for this Constitutional mess. I disagree... Apart from being concerned about the Constitution, as an officer of the court, having a high duty to the Court, I believe it's my duty to correct a misconceived negative perception towards the court, which has unfortunately been compounded by fellow officers of the court. You see folks, the SC has a duty to the dispensation of justice and to provide clarity where there is obviously an area of uncertainty about the Constitution, and to avoid confusion. Let me ask us all this: WHAT IF SC HAD NOT MADE SUCH AN ORDER? Would we still have this fiasco?? My answer: YES!!! You see if SC said "no vacancy" and left it there. ALL PARTIES would say... " NOW WHAT ?????!" Then Tiff and co would advise ONamah while Kua and co would advise Team Somare on next moves. (And bush lawyers would thresh it out on the streets and on

People blame the Supreme Court (SC), by ordering that Sir Mike " is restored forthwith ", for this Constitutional mess. I disagree... Apart from being concerned about the Constitution, as an officer of the court, having a high duty to the Court, I believe it's my duty to correct a misconceived negative perception towards the court, which has unfortunately been compounded by fellow officers of the court. You see folks, the SC has a duty to the dispensation of justice and to provide clarity where there is obviously an area of uncertainty about the Constitution, and to avoid confusion. Let me ask us all this: WHAT IF SC HAD NOT MADE SUCH AN ORDER? Would we still have this fiasco?? My answer: YES!!! You see if SC said "no vacancy" and left it there. ALL PARTIES would say... " NOW WHAT ?????!" Then Tiff and co would advise ONamah while Kua and co would advise Team Somare on next moves. (And bush lawyers would thresh it

The United Nations is spot on with its warning of Peter ONeill and Belden Namah government. Peter ONeill & Belden Namah are legends in their own minds. They think they can play their stupid games with the judiciary to maintain the illegally gotten power and keep pulling the wool over the eyes of the world, but the world has been watching and monitoring their every move. It is obvious that Australia, having compromised its own position with earlier recognition of O'Namah government, has prompted the UN to call Peter ONeill to attention. In a sense Australia having given the loaded gun to ONeill & Namah, is now trying  persuade them not to shoot the Judiciary. Some observers would say Australia does not know what it is doing with its foreign policy as far as PNG is concerned. Some would say Australia made a terrible mistake in recognizing ONeill-Namah government. The implications and the results of the Australian recognition of ONeill are very clear. We have all had to live w

The United Nations is spot on with its warning of Peter ONeill and Belden Namah government. Peter ONeill & Belden Namah are legends in their own minds. They think they can play their stupid games with the judiciary to maintain the illegally gotten power and keep pulling the wool over the eyes of the world, but the world has been watching and monitoring their every move. It is obvious that Australia, having compromised its own position with earlier recognition of O'Namah government, has prompted the UN to call Peter ONeill to attention. In a sense Australia having given the loaded gun to ONeill & Namah, is now trying  persuade them not to shoot the Judiciary. Some observers would say Australia does not know what it is doing with its foreign policy as far as PNG is concerned. Some would say Australia made a terrible mistake in recognizing ONeill-Namah government. The implications and the results of the Australian recognition of ONeill are very clear. We have all had to live

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has raised concern about threats to the rule of law in Papua New Guinea, which has been locked in a leadership battle. The nation's politics have been in turmoil since August 2011, when parliament elected Peter O'Neill as prime minister while then-leader Sir Michael Somare was recovering from illness in Singapore. Somare contests the legitimacy of the vote - a view upheld by the Supreme Court, which ruled in December that O'Neill's rise to power was illegal. Pillay accused O'Neill's government and parliament of interfering with judicial independence with a new law on judicial conduct. "One after another, the executive and parliament have taken very worrying steps to interfere with judicial independence," she said in a statement. "It appears that the Judicial Conduct Act is being used to interfere in particular with the legal proceedings to determine the legality of the current administration,"

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has raised concern about threats to the rule of law in Papua New Guinea, which has been locked in a leadership battle. The nation's politics have been in turmoil since August 2011, when parliament elected Peter O'Neill as prime minister while then-leader Sir Michael Somare was recovering from illness in Singapore. Somare contests the legitimacy of the vote - a view upheld by the Supreme Court, which ruled in December that O'Neill's rise to power was illegal. Pillay accused O'Neill's government and parliament of interfering with judicial independence with a new law on judicial conduct. "One after another, the executive and parliament have taken very worrying steps to interfere with judicial independence," she said in a statement. "It appears that the Judicial Conduct Act is being used to interfere in particular with the legal proceedings to determine the legality of the current administra

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and the Government  Caucus  (Which means all the parties in the Government) Assured the nation that the electoral Commission has stated the date as 18th of May as issue of Writs on which the elections begin and Papua New Guineans go to the Polls and the Return of writs return  on the  27th of July. There will be no extension of Parliament, Mr.O'Neill said they look forward going to the Polls. The Judicial Conduct Bill and other bills that were recently passed by Parliament are still in Court and are held up by various Court Orders, they will be dealt with when the next Parliament comes in.  Unions, churches, business, Transparency international said they grateful for the dialogue with the PM and tomorrow Port Moresby should be back to normal. Richard Kassman of Transparency International (PNG) addresses a serious point of confusion in the minds of the public, in regards to the Status of Members of Parliament after the issue of writs on May 18. He st

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and the Government  Caucus  (Which means all the parties in the Government) Assured the nation that the electoral Commission has stated the date as 18th of May as issue of Writs on which the elections begin and Papua New Guineans go to the Polls and the Return of writs return  on the  27th of July. There will be no extension of Parliament, Mr.O'Neill said they look forward going to the Polls. The Judicial Conduct Bill and other bills that were recently passed by Parliament are still in Court and are held up by various Court Orders, they will be dealt with when the next Parliament comes in.  Unions, churches, business, Transparency international said they grateful for the dialogue with the PM and tomorrow Port Moresby should be back to normal. Richard Kassman of Transparency International (PNG) addresses a serious point of confusion in the minds of the public, in regards to the Status of Members of Parliament after the issue of writs on May 18.

FURNISHINGS for the homes of Papua New Guinea bureaucrats have been ''incorrectly'' bought using $150,000 worth of Australian taxpayers funds and a thief has pocketed just over $250,000 from a justice strengthening project also funded by Australia. The waste was among about $1.5 million worth of AusAID funding the federal agency admits will never be recovered as a result of frauds and irregular spending from 2004 to 2010. This was revealed after the Herald asked the agency to detail how much had been recovered from a series of high-value frauds and whether those responsible had faced justice. AusAID confirmed no one would ever face charges in four cases involving significant amounts of aid money dating back to 2006. Suspects in four other incidents are yet to face court despite the suspected fraud occurring in one case up to six years earlier. However, the AusAID first assistant director general, Laurie Dunn, defended the agency's handling of the matters, saying som

FURNISHINGS for the homes of Papua New Guinea bureaucrats have been ''incorrectly'' bought using $150,000 worth of Australian taxpayers funds and a thief has pocketed just over $250,000 from a justice strengthening project also funded by Australia. The waste was among about $1.5 million worth of AusAID funding the federal agency admits will never be recovered as a result of frauds and irregular spending from 2004 to 2010. This was revealed after the Herald asked the agency to detail how much had been recovered from a series of high-value frauds and whether those responsible had faced justice. AusAID confirmed no one would ever face charges in four cases involving significant amounts of aid money dating back to 2006. Suspects in four other incidents are yet to face court despite the suspected fraud occurring in one case up to six years earlier. However, the AusAID first assistant director general, Laurie Dunn, defended the agency's handling of the matters,

The lawyers advising this bunch of crooks in ‘government’ need a serve as they operate under the radar and seem to escape scrutiny here. Tiffany Twivey, as dumb as she is pops her head up now and then and blows their cover with her silly postings, trying to defend the indefensible. To those lawyers advising the O’Neill/Namah ‘government’, you are there only because O’Neill and Namah have the keys to the treasury which I hear is just about dried up now. (The entire Department of Environment and Conservation was thrown out onto the streets and there is no money to accommodate them, yet there are barrels of cash for rogue ‘illegal’ advice. Shame!) You shamelessly help yourselves in the pillage and raid of the peoples’ treasury with your high fees, like the wolves you are, lining your pockets and bank accounts while the people suffer. You are being paid for introducing the most devious piece of legislation in the history of PNG to keep this useless regime in power and render our judiciary