PNG Coalition Against Corruption warns government
Updated
Anti-corruption groups are calling on the PNG government to stop the proposed changes to the Ombudsman Commission laws. The PNG Community Coalition Against Corruption says this is what the people want and for the sake of the nation, the government must listen. They say unless there is proper consultation, the government will be going against a nation-wide feeling.
Presenter: Warium Benson
Speakers: Dorothy Tekwei, PNG Community Coalition Against Corruption
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TEKWEI: I think it's a decision the government can make immediately to put to rest this feeling of a national movement against this bill, this unpopular bill, and the government can save the country itself some problems by not delaying this particular bill. The message is very clear, the people of Papua New Guinea have spoken. Over 20,000 people have signed a petition to ask for it to be withdrawn, to be repealed or to be removed, that the government should not entertain any changes at all to the current laws of the Ombudsman Commission. So it is not something that the people have asked the government to delay or to think about. The Government can proceed to withdraw this bill, because that is what the people are asking and any delay or any consultation process while we as members of the community Coalition against Corruption would like to see some more consultation. In future, when changes are to be made that the people are consulted, that there is widespread consultation, that sort of opportunity should be given before such major bill or amendment is made to our Constitution. Because our Constitution does not allow or has no provisions available for referendum, this is the only way where people can contribute to helping the government bring out good policies and laws, legislation, or make legislative reforms for the country.
BENSON: Do you think that the peaceful march that happened this week made the government to make their decision to delay the bill?
TEKWEI: Yeah, I think the government it seems like they are listening to the people or they have heard the wishes of the people, that there must be some consultation and that the government needs some time to look at this issue properly and probably to do some awareness, it's own awareness and publicity on what it thinks what the implications of the amendments would be.
I think for the public and for the benefit of the people who are not able to read newspapers or that, a lot of campaigning, a lot of publicity has been going on by the Community Coalition Against Corruption, the Transparency International PNG, the other NGOs students and all have been doing some awareness and this is on what we feel is going to be the implications of all the changes to this particular law for the Ombudsman. So we have done our part. The government is still to give its - go out using the same means more or less through the radio and whatever to tell the people, to go to the people, to go to all the electorates, to go to the members, to go to the 109 electorates and explain to the people what this is all about.
BENSON: Now Dr Alan Morat has resigned from the government. Should the other member of parliament follow him standing for their principle?
TEKWEI: I commend the member Dr Alan Morat from his position. I think it is very important, he is the key person and if he feels that there is something wrong with the proposed legislation then and if he has spoken by resigning or being asked to resign or come out publicly, I think there is something seriously wrong if he is the lead legal person and also a lawyer himself not able to accept that on a matter of principle, as a good leadership, to proceed would be something that he might not be able to live with and so he has taken the option to come out, to stand up and to speak out, even though he is supposed to be the key legal adviser to the government. So by taking his stand, it is a very honourable thing that he has done. Also the four opposition members of parliament that actually came and got the petition, some of them had voted for the amendment and they have decided to move sides, so to come out despite their initial position. These members have come out and stood out and I think that is the right thing to do and we expect other members of parliament to do the same, not to be bullied by others who may be arrogant and who think they are in parliament and they can do as they please. I think those members who have doubts about this particular amendment, if they do have doubts about the intentions or if they feel that or if they understand it to be amendments would benefit them than the spirit of the Constitution, then I think the onus is on them to join the other members who are actually making the decision not to support the bill.
