From: AAP
THE effective government of Papua New Guinea says it
will arrest the three judges who ordered ousted prime minister Sir Michael
Somare returned to power, unless they resign.
Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah said at midday
today that Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia and justices Les Gavera-Nanu and
Nicholas Kirriwom had less than 16 hours to tender their resignations.
Mr Namah's comments came as Sir Michael left Port
Moresby for his former electorate of East Sepik, where he is officially
expected to nominate for the June 23 national election.
"Enough is enough," Mr Namah said.
"As of yesterday, I gave (the judges) 24 hours
to resign on the basis that they have compromised the judiciary at the very
highest level.
"They will be arrested for sedition."
Three members of a five-man Supreme Court bench on
Monday reaffirmed their December 12 decision that Sir Michael was the nation's
constitutional prime minister.
The 76-year-old political veteran saw his latest
nine-year term in the top job terminated on August 2 last year when 70 out of
109 MPs voted to form government behind Peter O'Neill.
Mr O'Neill said Monday's decision should not have
been handed down after two members of the five-man bench - Deputy Chief Justice
Gibbs Salika and Justice Bernard Sakora - abstained on ethical grounds.
"The reference that was sought in the Supreme
Court was for advice to parliament, not a court order that has been given by
Injia and others," he said.
"All in all, we firmly believe the Supreme
Court has erred again.
"The two most senior judges who have spent
many, many years on the bench, many years of experience ... they have indicated
that of course there are issues, that the judiciary has been compromised."
Parliament had been expected to hold a special
sitting on Wednesday to legislate around the court's decision.
However, only 33 of the 109 MPs turned up, fewer
than the 55 needed to pass laws.
Mr O'Neill said he expected there would be enough
MPs in Port Moresby to call a parliamentary session tomorrow.
With election campaigning in full swing, many MPs
have left the capital for their electorates.
Sir Michael, who yesterday was refused an audience
with Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio, said the O'Neill government did not
have the right to bring back parliament a week after it was dissolved ahead of
the election.
"They have defied all the rules and they have
breached the constitution," he told reporters.
"The parliament is prorogued. You cannot call a
parliament any more."
AAP understands there is no constitutional block to
the government calling a special sitting after parliament has been dissolved
for the election.
Sir Michael also appealed to the Australian people
to acknowledge the legitimacy of his government.
"We want the Australian public to know we
believe they have been supporting the O'Neill regime," he said.
Sir Michael's choice of attorney-general, Sir Arnold
Amet, used stronger language, telling the assembled press PNG had fallen under
the rule of a dictatorial government.
"As of yesterday, they are now in dictatorial
control of this nation. They have no legitimacy, no leg to stand on.
"There can be no two ways this can be read. We
have the legitimate prime minister here."
Sir Arnold also made a public appeal for the police
and armed forces to back Sir Michael.
The police and public service say they are sticking
with the O'Neill government until after the election.
Police have refused to let anyone see the
governor-general until an MP with the required numerical support asks to form a
government after July 27.
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