A grand finale to Australian rule

By MALUM NALU

It was a truly moving ceremony and indeed a grand finale to Australian rule in Papua New Guinea.

Tears fell freely for many, a moment they shall never forget, as the Australian flag came down for the last time.

The Australian flag is lowered for the last time

Just after 5pm on Monday, September 15, 1975, George Ibor, Warrant Officer, 2nd Class, of the 1st Pacific Islands Regiment, stepped into the centre of the Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby.

A military band, accompanied by the percussion of a thousand clicking camera shutters, played Sunset as Warrant Officer Ibor lowered the Australian flag, folded it and handed it to Sir John Guise, the Governor-General of Papua New Guinea.

George Ibor, Warrant Officer, 2nd Class, of the 1st Pacific Islands Regiment carries the Australian flag for the last time

Australian colonial rule in Papua New Guinea had ended.

Sir John stressed that the flag was being lowered and not torn down, and that the years of transition from Australian rule to Independence had been happy and peaceful.

Governor-General Designate of Papua New Guinea Sir John Guise speaks about the end of Australian rule in PNG

Sir John Kerr, the Australian Governor-General, taking the liberties with history that such occasions permit, asserted that Papua New Guinea and Australia had “by and large” worked in harmony, and had thus avoided the policies and relationships which had proved so tragic elsewhere.

Australian Governor-General Sir John Kerr gives his remarks

Papua New Guinea Governor-General Designate Sir John Guise hands the Australian flag back to his Australian counterpart Sir John Kerr

At midnight on Tuesday, September 16, 1975, Governor-General Sir John Guise declared: “Distinguished guests, visitors from overseas, people of Papua New Guinea.

Independence proclamation by Governor-General Sir John Guise

“Papua New Guinea is now independent. The constitution of the independent state of Papua New Guinea, under which all power rests with the people, is now in effect.

“We have at this point in time broken with our colonial past and we now stand as an independent nation in our own right.

“Let us unite, with the almighty God’s guidance and help, in working together for a future as a strong and free country.”

At one minute past midnight, fireworks resembling the twin plums of a Bird of Paradise heralded the start of a new day, a new era and a new Nation State.

Simultaneously, a 101-gun salute from HMAS Stalwart of the Royal Australian Navy occurred accompanied by HMNZS Tarenaki.

On the morning of the first day of Independence for Papua New Guinea, flag raising ceremonies took place throughout the nation.

The ceremony in Port Moresby was conducted at Independence Hill overlooking the main city centre.

International guests in national dress and western dress assembled for the occasion.

Former Administrators D.O. Hay and J.K. Murray, and former Minister for External Territories C.E. Barnes were among the spectators.

Prince Charles unveiled a plaque to mark the site of the new National Parliament building.

The Governors-General of Papua New Guinea and of Australia followed by the Commander of the Defence Force Ted Diro and Police Commissioner Pious Kerepia inspected the plaque, which was followed by the planting of trees.

The Papua New Guinea flag was presented by the Governor-General to the Commander of the Defence Force and the Police Commissioner.

It was placed over three drums from the 1st Battalion Pacific Islands Regiment Band and blessed.

The Flag Party and guards slowly marched up Independence Hill and hoisted the new nation’s flag above the plaque commemorating the ceremony.

Prince Charles later officially opened the First National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.

He read a goodwill message from the Queen, and officially opened the first National Parliament.

He looked to a future of promise, opportunity and individual freedom, and reminded the elected representatives of the great burden of responsibility which they had shouldered.

The action moved back to the Hubert Murray Stadium where a crowd of 14,000 witnessed a long and colourful ceremony during which the country’s political and legal leaders pledged their allegiance and loyalty to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea,

Governor-General Sir John Guise was sworn in by the Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea, Sir Sydney Frost.

Deputy Prime Minister Sir Albert Maori Kiki was sworn in by the Governor-General, and the Prime Minister Michael Somare signed a Declaration of Allegiance.

Members of Parliament were sworn in by the Governor-General.

Cultural aides from Sogeri Senior High School represented Papua New Guinea in a ceremonial gift exchange with representatives of many nations, international organisations and the United Nations.

Messages from many lands expressed goodwill towards, and recognition of, the new nation of Papua New Guinea.

Prime Minister Michael Somare held a press conference where he preached the virtues and necessity of “pulling up our socks” to a largely sockless nation.

He also stressed a commitment to self-reliance while Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam gave a “categorical and unequivocal” assurance that Papua New Guinea would have first call on Australia’s aid programme.

Celebrations continued throughout the land.

On Wednesday, September 17, the Royal Australian Air Force and Air Niugini carried the Royal Party on its tour of five provinces throughout the mainland: East Sepik, Eastern Highlands, Chimbu, Western Highlands and Western.

People returned to their villages, put away their spears, kundus (hand drums) and bilas (finery) and recommenced the familiar daily round.

What would Independence bring to them?

Only time – now 36 years – would tell.

National Alliance Sandaun urges leaders to uphold constitution

THE National Alliance Sandaun branch members have urged politicians to uphold the law and constitution of Papua New Guinea and not compromise its integrity and sovereignty as a state, The National reports.
Branch chairman Alois Kapa said he was concerned that some elected leaders had forgotten the people and were promoting their interests to destroy the country.
He said the recent change of government, and last week's parliament sitting, had caused a constitutional crisis and threatened democracy, the integrity and sovereignty of PNG and undermined the status of the highest legal authority of the land.
Kapa also urged the National Court to speed up the case of whether the O'Neill government was legitimate.

Chimbu branch tells Kaiwi to quit

THE Chimbu branch of the National Alliance party has called on national president Simon Kaiwi to resign, The National reports.
Branch president Garry Eremuge made the call yesterday following the sacking of 20 party MPs for crossing the floor to topple the Somare government on Aug 2.
"Kaiwi was supposed to sack the NA MPs who are corrupt instead of sacking those who believe in transparency and good governance."
Eremuge said Kaiwi would have no vision for the party after the elections next year.
He described the move orchestrated by Kandep MP Don Polye to cross and team up with Peter O'Neill as "in the best interest of the nation".
He said Polye was elected NA leader at the Minj party caucus meeting with the backing of the highlands, southern and New Guinea Islands regions.
"Polye has the support of the majority of the NA founding members and financial members and parliamentary wing of the party.
"He should be leading the party into the general election with a new party president replacing Kaiwi," Eremuge said.

Polye challenged to name corrupt National Alliance party members

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

DON Polye has been challenged to name those who were corrupt in the National Alliance-led government, The National reports.
"Polye keeps on talking about corruption in the government he just left," party president Simon Kaiwi said. "What has he done about it when he was deputy prime minister, acting prime minister and a senior minister in government?"
He said Polye should not continue to point fingers.
"He should name names. Is James Marape corrupt? Is Leo Dion corrupt? Is Sam Abal corrupt? Is Sir Arnold Amet corrupt? And, for that matter, is Charles Abel corrupt?
"You cannot give a blanket corruption allegation against the NA members of parliament," Kaiwi said.
"We are not going to lie down quietly. Let some of them check their own backyard now.
"Some of them think they are clean but it is public knowledge that some are living beyond their means and are manipulating laws to suit themselves."
Kaiwi rubbished Polye's claims of being the NA parliamentary leader.
"Polye is not the leader of National Alliance in Papua New Guinea.
"He is claiming to be elected by the party caucus in Jiwaka. But, there was no such meeting."
Kaiwi said out of the 41 MPs, Polye only had 16 in Jiwaka when no parliamentary
caucus meeting had taken place to deal with the leadership issue.
"For Polye to take over leadership of NA, a properly-constituted meeting of 42 MPs in a parliamentary caucus is needed. Don leads only 16.
"You need a two-third majority for a properly-constituted council meeting.
"The NA-led government was dismantled by a faction led by Polye and, by doing that, we lost government, the prime ministership and now we are winding down to lea­ders of small parties with fewer numbers running government.
"It is his doing that we lost government and, if that is not enough, the small faction then supports the new regime to disqualify the NA leader and East Sepik regional member.
"I myself, as president and chairman of the national execu­tive committee, cannot pretend that everything is okay and destroy the party that we built over many years."
Kaiwi said the issue was before the courts but the faction, led by Polye and Ano Pala, had destroyed the party that had been in place for the past 10 years.
"What they have done is not in the interest of the party."
He said that was why the council expelled the 20 MPs from NA.
"The remaining 21 MPs will consolidate their position and we will go out and prepare ourselves like all other parties for the 2012 general election," Kaiwi said.

National Alliance firm on expelling 20

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

THE National Alliance council will not hold any meetings until the process of expelling the 20 members of parliament is completed, party president Simon Kaiwi says, The National reports.
He said the expulsion process had started with each of the 20 MPs given 14 days to respond either in writing or in person on why they should not be expelled from the National Alliance. They have until Sept 28.
"Some members of the NA council have compromised their position by taking sides with the expelled MPs," Kaiwi said.
"They are confused with their roles and are meddling with the affairs of the parliamentary wing."
Kaiwi was responding to a request by deputy presidents led by James Kond (highlands), Douglas Tomurisa (southern) and John Tuka (islands) and council members John Toberame (highlands) and Charles Synell (islands) for an special NA council meeting.
Kond and his group wanted to discuss, among other things, the:

• Special Supreme Court reference by the East Sepik provincial executive council and the NA party participation as an intervener;
• Contents of the full-page advertisement by Kaiwi published in The National last Wednesday; and
• Purported announcement by the NA executive committee to expel 20 MPs in the O'Neill-led government.
  

Kaiwi said the national execu­tive committee considered the parliament action in removing the NA-led government as a very serious matter that was of great concern to the party.
"We took the decision in the interest of the party to become an intervener.
"In case you have forgotten, the NA party was invited to form government after it won the highest number of endorsed candidates against other political parties.
"The parliament may remove the government, but could it do so in the way it did on Aug 2?
"That is the issue which requires the Supreme Court to determine and, therefore, the party has sufficient interest in the matter to join in as intervener."
Kaiwi said the second agenda in a full-page advertisement was his response to Don Polye's claim of being the NA parliamentary leader without any properly constituted meeting of the parliamentary wing held to deal with the leadership issue.
"The purported meeting by a faction in Minj early last month does not constitute such a meeting and Polye and group collaborated to pursue an agenda that is personal and detrimental to the interest of the NA party."
Kaiwi said for the expulsion of the 20 MPs, clause 17 of the party constitution was invoked to deal with individual MPs who colluded with others to overthrow the NA-led government.
"But, as though that is not enough, they supported the government to declare the seat of the parliamentary leader of our party vacant because he was seriously ill and could not attend the meetings.
"It is similar to the actions of (former) acting prime minister Sam Abal dismissing Polye as a minister and to remove the de­puty parliamentary leadership of highlands from him.
"We stood by the party process and defended Polye against the actions of the acting prime minister and suspended Abal as a member of NA for two months."
Kaiwi said the MPs were being disciplined individually and requirements under the party constitution were being followed.
"The provision for convening a special council meeting may be used only if three meetings have been held and an issue cannot be dealt with in any other way," he said.