I’ve been busy. See how easy it is to 'forget' an issue.
I started this blog because I was incensed with the whole system of corruption in PNG which was topped with that big red cherry that is the Moti affair. But after reading the papers today I haaaad to post something to get my sheer frustration out.
Here is what went down today: http://www.thenational.com.pg/100407/nationpage.htm
It’s not just about whether the PM committed a crime or not (how will we know when he keeps stalling the thing from getting to the DPP, where if he is innocent he will be found to be so), it’s about ethics as Professor John Nonggorr reminded everyone last week. It’s also about maintaining the nation’s confidence in the government and in the office of the Prime Minister (which need I add is addressed in the Leadership Code contained in the Constitution). This it seems is either beyond Somare’s understanding, below his understanding or amazingly non-existent to his understanding.
And now he proposes that the media should be further regulated? For what, publishing materials that disadvantage him?? This isn’t his private company, it’s a nation-state that is apparently democratic and, therefore, has a sovereign people. SOVEREIGN PEOPLE. In the event that this legislation does go through I hope it's challenged in the Courts under s39 of the Constitution as “REASONABLY [UN]JUSTIFIABLE IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY."
Here’s a letter I drummed up and sent to the PM’s office, but off course bounced back because the email address does not exist anymore, so i've forwarded it to his media department and am airmailing it too. I do respect Somare’s achievements for this country but I am finding it harder to respect him as a person as more and more of his actions illustrate his disregard of proper procedure and ethical practise.
You too can send this letter (copy & paste) to the PM via pmsmedia@pm.gov.pg. Or send it in to the national newspapers. I've done it and maybe they'll print it but so should you just as a show of discontent...that is if you too are of the opinion that the PM should step down. If you don’t want to be so direct, change the last sentence in the last paragraph to the alternative in blue. ( A letter to the Defence Minister to encourage publication of the Report is next, if you've already written such a letter send it to kumul karai and we'll post it up.)
*We all know PNG is a small place so I would encourage people to send in letters under pseudonyms if they feel its safer because I do appreciate the dangers with speaking out. Even with pseudonyms we can at least illustrate the sheer numbers in discontent.PNGeans don't have many avenues open for protest that are safe and we shouldn't be prepared to wait every 5 years, so let's do what we can now.
Dear Mr Prime Minister,
I am writing this letter with recognition and respect for you as the first Prime Minister of this country, who so strongly campaigned for a free and independent Papua New Guinea. When you campaigned for Independence and envisioned a future for this nation, I am in no doubt you saw a strong democratic state where the people remained sovereign and were afforded adequate living standards and fundamental human rights.
As the years have proceeded and having just celebrated our 32nd Independence, it seems that the dreams you and all Papua New Guineans may have had for a successful nation, have not been entirely fulfilled. As a Papua New Guinean I am proud that PNG has reached 32 years of independence, however, I fail to remain proud of the condition of this nation after 32 years of independence. It seems we have taken big strides forward to take a multitude of small, quick steps back, progressively chipping away at the progress we have made as a united nation.
There is much to be desired in terms of the fulfilment of the basic human rights in this nation, including the provision of an adequate standard of living, food, shelter, education and healthcare for our people. Elements of this are illustrated in our nation’s incapacity to adequately address the HIV epidemic that has seized us. However, the problem I wish most to address in this letter to you is the diminishing respect for Papua New Guinea’s judicial and legal system that has progressed over the years. There are countless instances of the flagrant disrespect many Papua New Guineans have for the laws of this country, which has developed over the years to what can only be described as a systemic perpetuation of corruption.
Corruption is not only about stealing but relates to the abuse of power in decision-making processes. It is a form of behaviour that deviates from ethics, morality, tradition, law and civic virtue. Indeed corruption is rife in PNG. It pervades almost every level of society in PNG and it has developed from the top down. Corruption in this country has been able to spread so quickly and take such a stronghold because those at the top, including successive governments and politicians of this country, have directly or tacitly encouraged it, or have taken inadequate steps to address it. It is corruption that has led to the inadequate standards of living in this country, to the inadequate response to HIV/Aids, to the ignorance of fundamental human rights, to the effective demotion of PNG by the UN from a ‘developing’ nation to a ‘least-developed’ one, and in order for corruption to be halted, the change must come from the top.
Mr Prime Minister, the first step to ensuring that corruption is addressed in PNG is to reaffirm the people’s confidence in the Government and in the public offices of the nation. This requires all public office holders to adhere to the Leadership Code contained in our Constitution, which you were a part of establishing at Independence. The Leadership Code contained within the Constitution is very clear on what is expected from public office holders and espouses the need for maintenance of public confidence in these offices. Where the Leadership Code has been breached the offenders must retire from office and be dealt with by the appropriate authorities.
The Ombudsmen Commission is charged with the duty to ensure compliance with the Leadership Code, however, in the event that it fails to discharge its duty, I believe the onus should be on the alleged offender to comply with general principles of ethics and withdraw from office, until such time as proper investigations are conducted to clear them of the alleged breach(es). Alternatively, if there is widespread public outcry or loss of confidence in public offices due to a general opinion that breaches of the Leadership Code occurred, the office-holders in question must respect the sovereignty of the people in a democratic system and step-down.
Mr Prime Minister as the head of the nation I implore you to ensure that these ethical and democratic practises are adopted by the government to tackle the web of corruption that is suffocating our nation of Papua New Guinea. I have faith that you and your Government maintain the same dream you had at Independence; for a nation in possession of a thriving, transparent, accountable and effective democratic system. A system where adequate living standards are afforded and basic human rights are met and in maintaining this vision I ask you, Mr Prime Minister, as my representative in parliament to [step-down until such time as the Moti Affair has been sufficiently resolved by proper procedures] or[use your powers to the best of your ability to ensure ethical and democratic behaviour of all public office holders].
May God be with you and with our nation of Papua New Guinea.
Yours sincerely,
Kumul Karai
I started this blog because I was incensed with the whole system of corruption in PNG which was topped with that big red cherry that is the Moti affair. But after reading the papers today I haaaad to post something to get my sheer frustration out.
Here is what went down today: http://www.thenational.com.pg/100407/nationpage.htm
It’s not just about whether the PM committed a crime or not (how will we know when he keeps stalling the thing from getting to the DPP, where if he is innocent he will be found to be so), it’s about ethics as Professor John Nonggorr reminded everyone last week. It’s also about maintaining the nation’s confidence in the government and in the office of the Prime Minister (which need I add is addressed in the Leadership Code contained in the Constitution). This it seems is either beyond Somare’s understanding, below his understanding or amazingly non-existent to his understanding.
And now he proposes that the media should be further regulated? For what, publishing materials that disadvantage him?? This isn’t his private company, it’s a nation-state that is apparently democratic and, therefore, has a sovereign people. SOVEREIGN PEOPLE. In the event that this legislation does go through I hope it's challenged in the Courts under s39 of the Constitution as “REASONABLY [UN]JUSTIFIABLE IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY."
Here’s a letter I drummed up and sent to the PM’s office, but off course bounced back because the email address does not exist anymore, so i've forwarded it to his media department and am airmailing it too. I do respect Somare’s achievements for this country but I am finding it harder to respect him as a person as more and more of his actions illustrate his disregard of proper procedure and ethical practise.
You too can send this letter (copy & paste) to the PM via pmsmedia@pm.gov.pg. Or send it in to the national newspapers. I've done it and maybe they'll print it but so should you just as a show of discontent...that is if you too are of the opinion that the PM should step down. If you don’t want to be so direct, change the last sentence in the last paragraph to the alternative in blue. ( A letter to the Defence Minister to encourage publication of the Report is next, if you've already written such a letter send it to kumul karai and we'll post it up.)
*We all know PNG is a small place so I would encourage people to send in letters under pseudonyms if they feel its safer because I do appreciate the dangers with speaking out. Even with pseudonyms we can at least illustrate the sheer numbers in discontent.PNGeans don't have many avenues open for protest that are safe and we shouldn't be prepared to wait every 5 years, so let's do what we can now.
Dear Mr Prime Minister,
I am writing this letter with recognition and respect for you as the first Prime Minister of this country, who so strongly campaigned for a free and independent Papua New Guinea. When you campaigned for Independence and envisioned a future for this nation, I am in no doubt you saw a strong democratic state where the people remained sovereign and were afforded adequate living standards and fundamental human rights.
As the years have proceeded and having just celebrated our 32nd Independence, it seems that the dreams you and all Papua New Guineans may have had for a successful nation, have not been entirely fulfilled. As a Papua New Guinean I am proud that PNG has reached 32 years of independence, however, I fail to remain proud of the condition of this nation after 32 years of independence. It seems we have taken big strides forward to take a multitude of small, quick steps back, progressively chipping away at the progress we have made as a united nation.
There is much to be desired in terms of the fulfilment of the basic human rights in this nation, including the provision of an adequate standard of living, food, shelter, education and healthcare for our people. Elements of this are illustrated in our nation’s incapacity to adequately address the HIV epidemic that has seized us. However, the problem I wish most to address in this letter to you is the diminishing respect for Papua New Guinea’s judicial and legal system that has progressed over the years. There are countless instances of the flagrant disrespect many Papua New Guineans have for the laws of this country, which has developed over the years to what can only be described as a systemic perpetuation of corruption.
Corruption is not only about stealing but relates to the abuse of power in decision-making processes. It is a form of behaviour that deviates from ethics, morality, tradition, law and civic virtue. Indeed corruption is rife in PNG. It pervades almost every level of society in PNG and it has developed from the top down. Corruption in this country has been able to spread so quickly and take such a stronghold because those at the top, including successive governments and politicians of this country, have directly or tacitly encouraged it, or have taken inadequate steps to address it. It is corruption that has led to the inadequate standards of living in this country, to the inadequate response to HIV/Aids, to the ignorance of fundamental human rights, to the effective demotion of PNG by the UN from a ‘developing’ nation to a ‘least-developed’ one, and in order for corruption to be halted, the change must come from the top.
Mr Prime Minister, the first step to ensuring that corruption is addressed in PNG is to reaffirm the people’s confidence in the Government and in the public offices of the nation. This requires all public office holders to adhere to the Leadership Code contained in our Constitution, which you were a part of establishing at Independence. The Leadership Code contained within the Constitution is very clear on what is expected from public office holders and espouses the need for maintenance of public confidence in these offices. Where the Leadership Code has been breached the offenders must retire from office and be dealt with by the appropriate authorities.
The Ombudsmen Commission is charged with the duty to ensure compliance with the Leadership Code, however, in the event that it fails to discharge its duty, I believe the onus should be on the alleged offender to comply with general principles of ethics and withdraw from office, until such time as proper investigations are conducted to clear them of the alleged breach(es). Alternatively, if there is widespread public outcry or loss of confidence in public offices due to a general opinion that breaches of the Leadership Code occurred, the office-holders in question must respect the sovereignty of the people in a democratic system and step-down.
Mr Prime Minister as the head of the nation I implore you to ensure that these ethical and democratic practises are adopted by the government to tackle the web of corruption that is suffocating our nation of Papua New Guinea. I have faith that you and your Government maintain the same dream you had at Independence; for a nation in possession of a thriving, transparent, accountable and effective democratic system. A system where adequate living standards are afforded and basic human rights are met and in maintaining this vision I ask you, Mr Prime Minister, as my representative in parliament to [step-down until such time as the Moti Affair has been sufficiently resolved by proper procedures] or[use your powers to the best of your ability to ensure ethical and democratic behaviour of all public office holders].
May God be with you and with our nation of Papua New Guinea.
Yours sincerely,
Kumul Karai
2 comments:
If someone was convicted or was accused of doing something wrong and honestly deep down know they didn't do such thing, would've every reasonable person want to clear their name and remove any cloud of doubt? If Somare is realllly innocent and had a high regard for legal processes then what would be so hard to step-down and let the official commission of inquiry begin? Or is the idea of wealth, power and too much pride too much to sacrifice for a routine secret mission that should have never gone wrong?
I luv this blogspot now that I have discovered it but am sorry to see that it seems to have been abandoned? Please consider continuing
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