PM and speaker collude to break law: Opposition

THE opposition last Friday accused Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare of breaking the law in the drama surrounding the “appointment” of Sir Paulias Matane to a second term in office.
Opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta accused the prime minister of conniving with the speaker to break the law.
Sir Mekere also questioned the impartiality of the speaker.
“It is clear the speaker is no longer independent. Today, Somare created a new form of democracy unique to PNG,” the opposition leader told a news conference after Parliament rose last Friday afternoon.
“Parliament has become useless. It is being used by the executive government with the help of the speaker.”
Sir Mekere said MPs were led to believe that they were voting to get incumbent Sir Paulias eligible for the election of the nation’s ninth governor-general.
He said after the 84-13 vote in which MPs stood up to vote, they were expecting the secret ballot process to follow to elect the next GG.
“That process was flouted by the National Alliance and Somare. There appears to be no respect for the law. Enough is enough. We might as well close down Parliament and allow Somare to run the
country as he likes.”
Bulolo MP Sam Basil said the other candidates – Sir Pato Kakaraya, Sir Makena Geno and Ronald Rimbao – were denied an opportunity to be elected to a public office.
“We have broken the law and I urge these candidates to go to court and challenge this.”
Mendi MP Pastor Isaac Joseph questioned why the government was so worried to deny the secret ballot taking place.
“What is the motive? The three are also Papua New Guineans who deserve an opportunity to be elected to this office.”
Finchhafen MP Theo Zurenuoc said it was clear the government MPs were voting with fear, a fear of being singled out if they did not vote with the prime minister.
He warned that people would lose respect for the government and rebel if the government did not care and continue to break the laws of the country.

National Newspaper June 26, 2010