Lawyer: House can fix dent in OLIPPAC

National Newspaper below reports that true democracy has been restored but I doubt it. Politicians are now free to join any political parties they want but the bottom line is that we are still dealing with the same corrupt leaders. Additionally, we are still dealing with the same system.
It will really require a complete change of system and people in-order for any changes to take place in this country. The same recycled leaders will be in government. There is no immediate change that I see but we need to invest in getting young leaders with new ideas and vision for this country.

Source:

By JULIA DAIA BORE

WEDNESDAY’S Sup-reme Court decision on the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) was hailed by its referrer, Dr Bob Danaya, as “justice being done at last” for the people of PNG.
Danaya and counsel Loani Henao, however, said the decision had left a “dent” in the OLIPPAC.
Henao said: “The major parts of the OLIPPAC that we challenged in court have been declared unconstitutional, but the rest remained intact.
“The question of whether what remains of the OLIPPAC would hold the law together is something for Parliament and the registrar of political parties to consider,” he told reporters after the court decision.
“In our view, the OLIPPAC had been severely dented. And, so, necessary amendments are needed to put together a complete OLIPPAC.”
Henao said while the intention of the OLIPPAC was to bring stability to government, such should not happen “at the expense of freedom of choice, freedom of expression and freedom of exercising conscience”.
“Do it properly; you can still do it within the framework of the Constitution.
“Do not abuse and do not take away the rights of the people which are expressed by their representatives.”
Thanking his legal team for convincing the Supreme Court to rule in their favour, Danaya said: “I can tell Members of Parliament that from this hour on, you are free to resign from a political party – if you wish to – and join another party or form another party.
“MPs now have that freedom; and, the important thing is, from here onwards, we must ensure there is good governance in Parliament and throughout PNG.”
Henao said the fears of a dictatorship were gone.
“That has been removed.
“True democracy has returned.
“The Supreme Court decision was very important. It was, hopefully, a lesson to the legislators that the enshrined freedoms in the Constitution must not be tempered or interfered with.
“These freedoms are put there so that they will allow the constituencies and the grassroots people of this country to exercise their freedom of choice and their freedom of expressions through their elected MPs.
“That should never, ever have been taken away in the first place.”

National Newspaper July 9 2010

Noel Anjo - The First Victim of Changes in the Environment Act by the Government of Papua New Guinea

The first victim of recent changes to the Environment Act 2000 by the government of Papua New Guinea is Noel Anjo. Noel is a well known activist; you will never miss him when you cruise around Boroko in Port Moresby during week days. Noel is one of those many who is passionate about this country and openly talks about the issues faced by people.
Noel was engaged by Transparency International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) and the Community Coalition Against Corruption (CCAC) to do awareness on corruption and issues relating to the changes in the Environment Act by the Government of Papua New Guinea when he was arrested by police in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province. Noel is now still under police custody.
What does this indicate to us people of this country? It is very obvious now that:
1) The government is putting the interests of multinational corporations before its people;
2) The government is NO LONGER about people but about PROFIT;
3) The government is A PUPPET; it is CONTROLLED by MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS; and
4) The government will NOT REST until IT FREES up peoples’ customary land for development.
Papua New Guinea is a democratic nation. Every citizen in this country has the right to say whatever he or she thinks it is good, bad, right or wrong about this country. We have the right under the constitution to freedom of speech.
The arrest by Noel Anjo; IS THIS A PREVIEW OF WHAT WE EXPECT FROM OUR GOVERNMENT FROM NOW ON?