An ineffective Somare -Temu regime (PNG's worst nightmare)

By Gelab Piak *

What the Opposition leader has said is true, and totally it’s agreeable that it is time for the Somare-Temu Government to go. For Sir Mekere has made a correct judgment and his call for every right thinking Papua New Guinean must not go unheard. He believes we are indeed at the cross roads.

This country is at the brink of falling apart. Look at all government agencies and departments such as Works and Supplies, Health, Education, even there is no proper welfare system. The Somare-Temu Government, however in power for the past 7 years has turned a blind eye to the deterioration of the following sectors.

The Fisheries, Foreign Affairs and Migration and Forestry departments are also deemed as corrupt, as corrupt deals has over the years plagued these departments. The Defense Force, through the Defense Department, has also been neglected and now the security of PNG is at stake.

Our greatest concern in the near future would security as we would have to have a large and well equipped force that could cover the western side of the country and the eastern side of the country as once. It is time we became serious and in a sense independent. The Police department is also falling apart.

It is true that, as claimed by the government that millions are being pumped into the PNGRC but the funds are only for operational purposes and not for housing, allowances, equipment. It is not concerned about the welfare of the officers; it is only concerned about its interest. Or should I say certain person’s interest. The PNG police use tactics such as, brutality and shoot-to-kill to show or illustrate that if you want trouble you’ll get a bullet.

The way they are shooting criminals is also disgusting. And the whole Police Force is controlled by one man; the Commissioner. And guess who he is controlled by; the Government. This poses serious questions? Is the PNG Royal Constabulary (especially the Mobile Squads) being used like a private or secret army of the Government? If so then, whose Army is it and why?

Is it the Governments secret Army and is it because they want to protect their special interest and their corrupt deals. How many S.O.Es have we had since the Somare-Temu Government came to power. It is senseless, yet becoming a growing trend that all the major conflicts are related to land owner issues.

Correct me if I am wrong but the Pogera call-out was not only because of law and order and illegal mining. There were threats made in the national to the Government by landowners, and certain factions threatening to create another Bougainville.

The fight in Wau area was a land owner issue, and the Ramu Nickel mine controversy is also a land owner related issue. The present Watut issue now arising is also a land owner issue. Why is the Government going against the People? This Somare-Temu government needs to investigate for corruption as it must run into the billions now.

It was made known in the Media last week that Somare and his MP’s have bought mansions in Australia and have access to the best health facilities while back home people are dying in POM General Hospital. What is wrong with the Government? Or is there something wrong with the Country it self? These are the questions that so many curious people are asking.

With a totalitarian type Government and poverty riddled society, is there really a bright future for us? Arthur Somare must not lie to the people. A big protest should be organized and staged nationwide in support of the opposition and to show the government that the people are fed up with all the corrupt, incompetent, uncaring style of ruling it has.

The people of Papua New Guinea must stand up now or it will be too late. I call on the opposition to call for protests. It is time, people like Sir Mekere and Bart Philemon displayed true characteristics as leaders by mobilizing people and leading them in such democratic process as protests.

I urge the opposition leader to also investigate weather it is true if the NEC is used like a regime, high jacked by Somare and his corrupt ‘friends’ who are also members of the Cabinet. So genuinely enough, the opposition leader is correct, they, the Somare-Temu Government is corrupt, incompetent, reckless and uncaring and making kitchen decisions, thus, without doubt we need to get rid off it. It is like an infectious disease that shall poison us until it kills us.

Piak is a student at the Divine Word University in Madang, PNG *

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@