Some PNG MPs show support for anti-Asian sentiment
Updated
The Papua New Guinea government has been urged to address the widespread looting of Asian shops and businesses in the country. But some in parliament are taking a different view on behalf of their constituents.
Presenter: Firmin Nanol
Speaker: Malcolm Smith Kela, Provincial Governor of Eastern Highlands province; Ano Pala, MP of PNG's Central province; Sir Mekere Morauta, PNG Opposition Leader
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NANOL: Most shops - run by Chinese, Koreans and Asians - in the PNG Highlands remain closed after opportunists looted them of goods this week. The Eastern Highlands Province has been the worst hit, with four shops completely looted of goods. Provincial Governor, Malcolm Smith Kela, has tabled a petition in Parliament presented to him by his people, who have complained that Asian businesses mistreat local employees.
Governor Smith told parliament some ask sexual favours from local women in exchange for jobs.
KELA: That there is a general consensus that Asian businessmen have exploited locals in the following ways - very long working hours for very low wages, the selling of very cheap goods and counterfeit products on the streets causes hardship for the citizens of Papua New Guinea. Your petition is therefore humbly pray and calls upon the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Minister of Labour to intervene to protect our citizens of the action of Asian businessmen and further that the relevant government agencies check whether these Asians enter the country with valid passports and business visas.
NANOL: He says the attacks on the shops are a result of frustration over the government's failure to provide basic services. Governor Malcolm Kela says most citizens feel the public service misuses public funds meant for services in rural areas.
KELA: This is the first of the cluster bomb, born out of frustration, frustration with lack of government services, jobs, law enforcement, and above all else, corruption and theft of public monies in Waigani. Money which should go to the provinces and the rural areas, hospitals, schools and roads. Now when I met the mobs gathering in Goroka on Monday, who wanted to continue looting. I fronted them and one thing I noticed was the anger in the faces of our young youth. There's anger and frustration. Some undoubtedly had genuine grievances against the Asians. However, this is not the real reason. This is not the root cause of the problem.
NANOL: Another member of parliament from PNG's Central Province, Ano Pala, has supported the Governor's comments. He says PNG government institutions are not functioning properly and serving the people. Mr Pala says even the education system is training people for jobs that are not there.
PALA: Governments ability to create jobs is not there. So Mr Deputy Speaker, this is where small businesses and financial system comes in. We need to support our education system, to create some of the basics of how to make money, how to run a business and how to understand the commercial and business system in the schools.
NANOL: PNG's Opposition Leader, Sir Mekere Morauta, says the government should attack the root causes of the problem. He has called on PNG's Immigration and Labor officials to address a so-called 'influx of Asians' entering and doing businesses in the country.
MORAUTU: I think the Minister for Labor and Foreign Affairs should address the nation, tell them that no foreigners will be allowed in, unless they meet certain preset conditions. Why do we bring people like we're bringing now? Why is it? I mean these are very serious questions and if we don't answer these questions effectively, we can be taken advantage of to come and exploit and in the end, we are creating our own problem.
NANOL: There has been widespread looting of Chinese, Koreans, and generally Asian shops in the PNG Highlands - an area known for tribal violence. PNG police have increased security in the region as the anti-Asian sentiment and situation remains tense. Police have blamed a pressure group, 'NGO and Civil Society', which organised a protest against Asian shops in the capital Port Moresby last week, for the lootings.
