After Somare, who?

The National Commentary

 

YESTERDAY dawned an ordinary sunny Port Moresby kind of day – a little on the windy side – but before it ended, Tuesday, June 28, 2011, was propelled into the annals of PNG history.

Shortly after 3pm, an announcement was made that Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare was retired after nearly 50 years in PNG politics.

"Was retired", not "had retired"!

The man who has achieved so many firsts in his life has also achieved another milestone at this parting juncture – he could neither himself be present at the announcement of his retirement nor had he participated in the decision himself.

His immediate family made the decision for him three weeks ago while he still lay in the intensive care unit of Singapore's Raffles Hospital.

The announcement had been delayed in the hope that he would recover sufficiently for the family to consult him on its decision.

When that did not happen, the family decided to make the announcement to stop the speculation, to allow him time to recover fully and to make way for PNG to move ahead with the business of government without "Somare being in the way".

"We are removing our father," son and Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare said in Tok Pisin yesterday, "so that he is not an obstacle for PNG to move ahead".

It is a significant moment in the life of PNG when one of the longest serving leaders in the Commonwealth of Nations is removed from our midst. It is a moving time to see a firebrand politician so incapacitated on medical grounds that he cannot make the final solemn decision to retire.

Yet, the family decision is the correct one and it must be commended for it. That the family has stood together in the face of great stress and difficulty to make a decision for both their father and in the interest of the nation truly makes them our first family.

While retirement should be self-executing and, therefore, ought to automatically remove from him all necessary powers as MP for East Sepik, as National Alliance parliamentary leader and as prime minister, because he did not make the decision himself might raise some thorny legal questions.

What is to follow is not clear-cut at all.

The family action now removes the constitutional provision for three doctors to declare him incapable to continue in office on medical grounds. That provision is no longer relevant.

The action also provides a vacancy in the office of the prime minister.

The announcement by the family begins a process that will end with the election of a new prime minister of PNG.

Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal is in charge for now but how long he is to continue legally is unknown. While his reign on government, shaky at first, is strengthening and he appears focused and charismatic, this announcement will mean he must first gain legitimacy to continue in office from his own National Alliance party.

Since this situation has never before occurred, the laws have not been tested. This situation is unprecedented so that should provide government lawyers with some interesting legal gymnastics.

Parliament has adjourned to August, placing it well within the 12-month period when no motion of no-confidence can be moved in the prime minister, yet, there is no prime minister to move a motion against.

Only parliament can elect a prime minister so it is important that parliament meets as a matter of urgency and it falls to cabinet to make that decision.

Political lobbying, as expected, has begun in earnest and will continue.

The ruling National Alliance party, with 42 members, has a head-start but it might not have the advantage that the integrity law guarantees when it states that the leader of the party with the largest number will be invited by the governor-general to form government.

That provision, we would vouch, only applies at the end of a general election.

In such confusing circumstances, perhaps, a look for direction to the founding father, who now lies ill on a hospital bed in a distant land, might prove helpful.

A dangerous constitutional crisis is looming which needs averting but how to do it is the question.

What would the Grand Chief do in such a circumstance?

That unique ability of his to calmly smother all dissent, to gather differing views and extremities through consultation and consensus, to make sense out of chaos and to move all that mass in one direction, is needed again now more than ever before.

The question is: Do we have that man?

Somare retires

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

PRIME Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare has retired from office for medical reasons, his son Arthur Somare announced yesterday, The National reports.

The decision was not Sir Michael's, but that of his immediately family members who reached it three weeks ago in Singapore.

"He is not in a position to coherently make a decision himself ... that is why we have made the decision,'' Arthur said.

"On behalf of Lady Veronica and the rest of Sir Michael's family, I would like to inform the public that it is our wish that Sir Michael will now pursue a life in retirement after nearly 50 years of active politics due to medical reasons and the uncertainty of the recovery period."

The retirement covers all positions held by the PM including:

*Parliamentary leader of the National Alliance party;

*Regional member of parliament for the East Sepik people; and

*As Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.

Somare, who is minister for public enterprises, put on a brave face although he was visibly emotional when making the announcement.

"The public was informed at different intervals that Sir Michael has taken medical leave to address a condition that has prevailed over many years," he said.

"The initial operation to replace the leaking heart valve was successful but, subsequently, other complications had developed.

"These complications have further delayed the anticipated time in which Sir Michael was expected to recover and return to Papua New Guinea."

The son said the difficult and trying part of identifying infectious diseases had been cleared but, at the age of 75, going to 76, and after three heart operations, "it will weaken a person of his age".

 "The uncertainty of when he will be out of intensive care has pushed us into this decision," he said.

He said Sir Michael was in ICU and "is not in a position to talk and understand the decision made by the family three weeks ago".

"I have not talked to my father in weeks," Somare said.

He said the road to recovery would be slow and "it will be a tedious wait and the family cannot keep PNG waiting".

"All five siblings and our mother have taken this decision that he steps down from politics and that Sir Michael is allowed to recover at his own pace. In our considered decision to do this, we believe PNG should have a level of certainty with regard to political stability and leadership well into the future.

"He is not only the head of the Somare family. He is the head of the country and there are different processes to be taken to elect a new prime minister.

"I am not here for politics but as a family member to announce the family's desire to retire our father.

"Taim femili ino toktok, banis istap yet. Nau mi toktok, mi kliarim rot. Em samting bilong palamen, kebinet na pati long mekim disisen. Em bai ino mo sanap long rot. (When the family did not speak out, it becomes an obstacle, but now that I make that announcement, it clears the road for parliament, cabinet and party to make a decision).

"This has not been an easy decision to make without full and proper consultation with Sir Michael.

"However, in the greater public interest and collective good of the country, we are of the view that this decision is necessary and we believe it will be his desire to do so at this time given the circumstances.

"I would like to thank the people of Papua New Guinea for their well wishes, messages of support and constant prayers."

Women at work

Women of the Seventh-Day Adventist church in Lae, Morobe, walked through the streets of the city collecting rubbish on Sunday, The National reports.

About 200 women were divided into three groups and collected rubbish at the three major shopping centres of Main Market, Eriku and Chinatown. 

Some of the women (above), who had cleaned Chinatown were on their way to the Main Market when they were pictured at the Lae Yacht Club, at Voco Point.

The other group, which started from the market, also cleaned the road to Eriku from where other women picked up rubbish on the way to Chinatown.

The women collected used plastic bags, soft drink containers and other rubbish. – Words and picture by PISAI GUMAR

 

Broker highly rates Highlands Pacific

AUSTRALIAN investment broker Evans and Partners has given a “positive” rating to Papua New Guinea mining explorer and developer Highlands Pacific, The National reports.

The company is a junior partner in the US$1.4 billion Ramu nickel and cobalt being developed by Chinese giant Ramu NiCo, 18.18% joint venture partner in Xstrata’s Frieda River copper mine in East Sepik and explorer in the Star Mountains of Western’s North Fly electorate.

“Highlands Pacific remains our number one recommendation within the copper space, due largely to the extreme discount to valuation the company is currently trading,” research analyst Cathy Moises said in Evans and Partners’ Australian resource sector report released last week.

She wrote that with a decision on the Ramu NiCo submarine tailing disposal court case expected later next month, a trebling of the exploration focus in the Star Mountains and final definitive feasibility study for Frieda River due in January 2012, the news flow would be significant.

Frieda is the key asset, she said, noting that it was one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper/gold resources.

“Subject to the project continuing to meet its project hurdles, a 12-month feasibility study is due for completion in January 2012, with possible construction commencing in 2012 and production in 2017,” Moises said.

The pre-feasibility study provided for a 60mtpa operation for the first eight years of mine life and 50mtpa average for LOM (when processing harder ore).

 

 

Students urged to repay Tesas loans

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

RECIPIENTS of the Tertiary Education Study Assistance Scheme (Tesas) loan from 2000 to 2007 are urged to start repaying their loans to the Office of Higher Education through the Department of Finance and Treasury, The National reports.

OHE student support and scholarship assistant director Joseph Morimai said recipients living in the National Capital District should go to the cash office at Vulupindi Haus and make payments to finance revenue vote #106.01.

Recipients in the provinces could visit their district treasury office and make payments to the same vote.

Those employed recipients are asked to provide their employment details to the OHE.

Morimai said copies of the receipt should then be faxed to the OHE for their database and cross-check purposes.

He said the OHE would design and maintain debt recovery database to allow accurate accounting of individual student’s loans and repayments, and to keep all student data.

He said since its inception in 2000, OHE had loaned close to K6 million to more than 3,000 students in Tesas attending nursing, teaching, technical and business colleges and universities.

“So far, only two women have repaid their loans since the Tesas loan scheme started,’’ he said.

“So, by creating this repayment mechanism with the help of the Finance and Treasury Department, we hope to recoup at least 60% of the funds.”

The loans scheme was developed to help students enrolling at universities and non-university institutions pay their tuition fees.

The four scholarship categories were academic excellence scholarship (AES), Higher Education Contribution Assistance Scheme (Hecas) and self-sponsored.

The service was suspended in 2008 to allow OHE to develop ways to get its money back.

Police boss cracks whip

Officers implicated in student killing face suspension

 

By JUNIOR UKAHA

  

POLICE officers implica­ted in the death of a Kokopo Business College student will be suspended pending an investigation, Police Commissioner Tony Wagambie said yesterday, The National reports.

He condemned the actions of a group of policemen who allegedly assaulted a final-year management student who died while in police custody.

Wagambie said if the reports into the alleged beatings and death were correct, “then the policemen responsible will be dealt with accordingly”.

“Nobody is above the law, even if they are police officers,” he said.

“Normal police investigations will follow and none of the officers responsible will walk away free.”

As he made his hard stance known, Acting Deputy Commissioner operations Fred Yakasa announced one policeman had been committed to stand trial and three others were facing charges in relation to the death of a man in custody in Kimbe, West New Britain, early this year leading to a riot in that town (story on page 3).

East New Britain provincial police commander Supt Sylvester Kalaut yesterday maintained, however, that he needed to have “concrete evidence” on the allegation that his officers were involved in the student’s death.

He said it was mere speculation by the community and the school administration to force an internal investigation on his officers.

Wagambie spoke out after a group of policemen from Kokopo, East New Britain, stormed the Kokopo Business College, fired tear gas, raided a male dormitory and assaulted students.

The officers allegedly beat up the final-year student, Stanis Jiki, in his dormitory and hauled him and three others to the police cells where Jiki was said to have died.

Wagambie said police were allowed to “use force”, when carrying out their duties, but the “nature of the situation” must justify the type of force used.

“I have not been formally briefed,” he said.

“But if it is true (killing), then, administrative procedures will apply.

“The officers implicated will be suspended automatically pending investigation.”

He said a similar case where police brutality had resulted in the death of a local youth in nearby Kimbe, West New Britain, had resulted in three police officers committed to stand trial.

He said another policeman in Port Moresby was last year sentenced to 22 years in jail for discharging a firearm in public and pointing a gun at members of the public even though he did not kill anyone.

Wagambie passed his condolences to the relatives of the deceased and appealed to the students not to take the law into their own hands.

His comments came as four male students from the Kokopo Business College appeared before the Kokopo District Court yesterday on charges of arson and damaging school property.

The students were all from Wosera in East Sepik. They were Winsaslaus Bagamu, a second-year student, Noel Wapikundi, Edward Jiriwahu and Bradley Wambi, all first-year students.

They were charged on Saturday under section 67, subsection 1A of the Criminal Code.

Their cases had been transferred to the Kerevat District Court and were remanded in custody at the Kerevat Correctional Services.

The four were refused police bail and had been ordered by magistrate Samuel Lavutul to file for bail application.

The burning down of the office administration building was in retaliation to the death of Jiki.

Kalaut yesterday said the school administration had complained that police officers had beaten up Jiki.

He confirmed that a post- mortem would be conducted on Jiki this week, once doctors at the Nonga Base Hospital morgue were ready.

It was understood that a protest march was being planned by KBC students and staff for today.

Cop to stand trial over Kimbe killing

A POLICEMAN will stand trial in the National Court over the killing of a man which sparked a riot in Kimbe, West New Britain, early this year, The National reports.

Acting Deputy Police Commissioner and chief of operations Fred Yakasa said in a statement yesterday that three others would be committed to stand trial in  what is known as the ex-offico indictment.

The announcement came as  the dead body of a student was found in a police cell on Saturday morning in neighbouring Kokopo in East New Britain.

Policemen are said to have fired tear gas and stormed into the dormitory on Friday night where they beat up students and dragged off four to the police cells for questioning.

Police Commissioner Tony Wagambie yesterday said any policeman found to have been involved in the death of the student would be dealt with.

Yakasa named the policeman to stand trial over the Kimbe murder as First Const Paul Karl.

Three other policemen who appeared separately for the same offence, but had their cases struck out due to insufficient evidence, were named as Chief Sgt Godfrey Kambania, Const Alex Tokavai and Gabriel Nomu.

All four policemen were charged under section 7 principal offenders of the Criminal Code Act.

Yakasa said section 7 of the Criminal Code Act covered people who were merely present when an offence was committed but did nothing to deter or prevent the offence.

“In this particular case, they are members of the constabulary who have sworn an oath to protect and serve the public.

“By allegedly not doing anything, they are just as guilty of criminal neglect.

“However, in this particular case there was overwhelming evidence proving their involvement in committing the crime.

“We are, therefore, arranging with the state prosecutor’s office to commit the other three to stand trial through the ex-officio indictment,” Yakasa said.

In the meantime, their serious disciplinary offences report had been submitted to internal affairs directorate for speedy adjudication.

Yakasa said the police hierarchy was serious in ensuring members of the constabulary were held accountable.

“Let me make it very clear again that the Wagambie administration will not tolerate undisciplined, abusive, corrupt and unprofessional policemen.

“We will hold all members accountable for their actions or inactions,” Yakasa said.