By Countryside

By Paul Oates

Having just returned from the original birth place of democracy, in the light of a fellow commentator’s postulations, it seemed appropriate to reflect on whether true democracy does or did ever exit in PNG. So firstly, what is democracy? 

All parliamentarians who have been referred by the Ombudsman Commission for failure to submit their annual returns must have all their overseas bank accounts frozen including those of their immediate relatives pending the outcome of the tribunals, says Bulolo MP Sam Basil.

By Derick Barry

Opposition Leader, Mekere Morauta, says the Prime Minister, Speaker of Parliament and the Leader of Government Business have yet again breached the Constitution by failing to ensure Parliament sits the required 63 days this year.

I will immediately seek legal advice about the options open to the Opposition for fighting the adjournment in the courts,” he said.

“The adjournment motion moved by Mr Tiensten and accepted by Mr Nape, is not only a most serious and deliberate breach of the Constitution. It goes against all the principles of democracy".

Submitted by Countryside

In recent times, many PNGns and Aussies have been engaging in a good healthy debate on aid to PNG from Australia. Everyone is in some agreement - it needs to be re-looked at - but its also quite interesting and perhaps not surprising a growing number of bloggers are screaming at the failure of PNG nationals in government, not been able to absorb the aid constructively to deliver to our people.

Submitted by Countryside

When the Whiteman first arrived our shores, our wantoks marveled at their tools, way of life and customs. They soon became part of their foreign policy, to spread their hegemony through colonialism. Using the strategy of in the first instance missionary out post, second to protectorate and than eventually to resource extractions, the machinery of development was totally for the Empire. Yep, we went under this conveyor belt as well, carving our great land to be one part for Wilhelm Kaiser and the other for Her Majesty.

The National Court has found controversial Malaysian logging giant, Rimbunan Hijau, guilty of intimidating, threatening and harassing the Post Courier newspaper and abusing court processes in order to try and stop publication of reports critical of their logging operations.

The Court has also ordered Rimbunan Hijau's lawyer, Michael Wilson be charged with perjury for filing sworn evidence "that defies the truth with intend [sic] to mislead the court".

The full National court decision is attached below as a downloadable pdf file.

Australia's Foreign Minister failed to confront PNG's culture of corruption and conflict on his recent visit, says Paul Cleary writing in The Australian

THE visit to Papua New Guinea last week by Foreign Minister Stephen Smith highlights the disturbing incapacity of the Port Moresby government to cope with the mounting challenges it faces, and Australia's refusal to confront a culture of corruption and conflict that is tearing the place apart.

Submitted by 'Countryside'