NEWSPAPERS today branded the turnaround of a Sandline protest
leader who has been elected to government as "shocking" and said Papua New
Guinea's new governing coalition was founded on a "litany of broken promises".
Eastern Highlands Governor Peti Lafanama, former secretary-general of the
Melanesian Solidarity (Melsol) activist group, was singled out for a bitter
attack.
He gained popularity during the protests against the Chan government last
March.
However, four other NGO leaders are facing "illegal assembly" charges over
their protest role in the National Court on Friday.
Both the National and Post-Courier newspapers challenged whether Prime Minister
Bill Skate's government represented electoral wishes for political change.
"They voted for change - for a government that will weed out bribery and
corruption at all levels of the political leadership, a government that is
transparent, a government that is honest, a government with the highest
qualities of public and personal integrity that will put the interests of the
people before those of politicians," the Post-Courier said.
"Mr Skate was vocal against corruption and moved the motion in March when
Parliament sat for the last time, for outgoing Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan
to step aside and allow a commission of inquiry into the controversial Sandline
deal.
"The parties Mr Skate wanted out of government are now in government with him.
How does he explain that?"
In an editorial headlined "A litany of broken promises", the National said that
although on the surface a near three-quarter majority support for the
government seemed to indicate an unprecedented numerical strength, the
Opposition boasted all of Parliament's most experienced parliamentarians and
"some of its best brains".
"The new coalition government, hastily pieced together from many different
parties, groups and individuals in less than 18 hours, leaves in its wake a
litany of broken promises to the people of Papua New Guinea," the paper said.
The National stressed that several new members of Parliament were elected to
Parliament because of their stand against the Sandline deal.
A front-page photograph of Lafanama escorting Skate in Parliament stunned many
NGO supporters who had backed him, Father Robert Lak and their group of Melsol
independents for their opposition to the Chan government and Sandline.
"It was nothing short of shocking yesterday to see one of those politicians,
Peti Lafanama, escort the Prime Minister-elect to his place as seconder of the
nomination in a government which places him together with People's Progress
Party and Pangu members, some of whom were ministers who participated in the
Sandline case," the National said.
"The same goes for the other members who claimed to have been sponsored by NGOs
but who are now most definitely government MPs.
"Power does do strange things to all manner of people," said the National.
"It is hoped those concerned can reconcile it with their conscience, that of
their electorate and the nation who admired the stand they took."
The paper said Parliament now appeared lopsided with many inexperienced people
in the government majority.
"We do not mean to berate the new MPs, but experience counts for a lot and
particularly where matters of national interest are concerned. The new
government is dangerously short on that."
Two prominent politicians broke party ranks with the Skate camp and voted with
Sir Michael Somare's National Alliance in Parliament - as the Melsol group had
been expected to do.
Somare was defeated 71 to 35 by Skate in the election for prime minister and
"the Chief" said he would not lead the Opposition.
Former Central Bank of PNG governor Sir Mekere Morata, an outspoken critic of
corruption, said he had turned down an offer to become prime minister from the
two coalition partners Pangu and PPP and voted with the Alliance on principle.
"Most of you know my views on corruption," he said after defecting just a week
after becoming new leader of the People's Democratic Movement and voting
against the Paias Wingti-founded party.
"We seem to have created a government that many people wanted to get rid of."
Former National Planning Minister Moi Avei also defected from the new
government coalition at the last minute because the people no longer had
confidence in the government that "I was a member and minister of".
A leading statesman, Sir Paulias Matane, has appealed to Skate to "make sure
his words come true".
He said the prime minister should move to follow through with his pledge to set
up another commission of inquiry with wider terms of reference to look into
allegations involving the:
Sandline controversy.
Poreporena freeway road project.
National Capital District water deal.
Cairns Conservatory purchase.
Malaysian housing project for the PNG Defence Force.
West New Britain oil palm project.
David Robie is a New Zealand journalist and author specialising in Pacific affairs. He is currently lecturer in journalism at the University of Papua New Guinea
