Open defiance of the rule of law - a concern

In recent times, Papua New Guinea has experienced an unprecedented level of crime with one international organisation dubbing Port Moresby as “one of the most dangerous” capitals on the planet Earth. Many of us in PNG will argue that that is exaggerated considering a number of determining factors including population, frequency of crime and others.But, despite that, the fact is that in the past few years there has been an increase in highly organised crimes committed in PNG.

Concerns have been raised by people from all works of life for immediate and appropriate government action. This includes the numerous calls for the Government to start acting and implementing the recommendation of the National Guns Summit report headed by Major General Jerry Singirok (retired). To this date, the Government is yet to implement the recommendations and the report is like a number of other government commissioned reports, collecting dust including the finding of inquiries into the former National Provident Fund (Nasfund), former PNG Investment Cor-poration (Pacific Equities Balance Fund) and the PNG Defence Force Commission of Inquiry.

These inquiries revealed misuse of funds, abuse of process and breach of the country’s law. Yet, Grand Chief the Prime Minister has seen fit not to act on them and allow the reports to collect dust. While the Government procrastinates on what to do with these reports more crimes are being committed with the use of arms including high-powered guns.

Sir, when will these inquiries, investigations, and recommendations made known to the 6.5 million people of Papua New Guinea?

Has the Government moved to act on the initiatives of PNG professional organisations who met on July 11 and 18, 2007 and recommended a program for the Government to adopt and deal with the country’s state of crime and corruption? The recommendations included:

n Establishment of a Pacific regional peace keeping force, an idea first suggested by former prime minister and currently governor for New Ireland Sir Julius Chan;

n Australian ECP experts to be in actual operational roles right across the spectrum of the PNG public service to set standards in an attempt to weed out corruption; and

n Reforms in the Whistle Blowers Act, Freedom of Information Act, Vagrancy Act, Crimes Act for Stolen State Property, Tribal and Clan Prosecution Act; and

n Amendments to the National Intelligence Act.

Does the nation have to wait for brutal murder or senseless killing of a serving or former prime minister, minister, governor general, governor of a province or a member of parliament before something is done. The buck stops with the Government. The innocent majority of over six million PNG citizens deserve better than this from the current government. Why should the defenceless and innocent majority suffer and live in constant fear.

Why should our ordinary peace-loving citizens be at the mercy of the gun-toting, trigger-happy and senseless criminals? When will the Prime Minister start to implement the Singirok report as well as the commission of inquiry reports? The possible and the highly likely reason for the current open defiance of the rule of law in Papua New Guinea is because the common people are fed up with the so-called leaders getting away with punishable offence and crimes.

The rule of law must be observed from the highest ranking state official in Port Moresby down to the ordinary villagers in the remotest parts of PNG. People everywhere are saying that if the so-called leaders are getting away with serious crimes why shouldn't the small people do likewise. As well, the nation has been been waiting to hear what the government was doing to resolved a number of controversies/scandals confronting this government.

– Qwentan K. Chollai

National Secretary, NGP


Qwentan,

Great article in the P/C today. An interesting read. I've been addressing these issues on my blog (www.pngemmiyet.blogspot.com) and in the editorials of the papers countless times but it seems to me that Somare and his cohorts seem to have the feeling that, "I am in government which enables me to dictate to others and be above the laws so who will say anything about me" mentality. This mentality is prevalent in all his political life and now joined by others of his calibre.

This is a dangerous trend for PNG. One of the questions that keep popping up every time when I read and hear such stories is, what have Somare done for PNG during all his political life? Merely nothing! Don't you think so?

Kind regards,

David U. Ketepa

Detroit, Michigan, USA