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Tag: PNG Politics

  • Lt. Gen. WPRA Amunggut Tabi: Congratulations Hon. Powes Parkop MP for Re-Election

    From the Central Defense Headquarters of the West Papua Revolutionary Army (WPRA) Lieutenant General Amunggut Tabi hereby would like to congratulate Hon. Powes Parkop MP for being re-elected as a Member of Parliament for a third term.

    The relationships and cooperation between the Papuans in the western part of our New Guinea Island with Mr. Parkop started almost 30 years ago, when Mr. Parkop was a student In 2004, when Mr Parkop was a lawyer, I myself with my guard came to you, Mr Parkop, and encouraged you to become a politician. This was not a trick, it was an order from our supreme commander Mathias Wenda. He was the one who told us to come and tell you Mr. Parkop, to get involved in PNG Politics.

    Through myself, he extended his gratitude for releasing him from PNG prisons. Many times my commander Gen. Wenda was arrested, and you helped his release many times. Gen. Wenda did not have anything to thank you. He just had an order, to let you know to campaign for a parliamentarian seat. He ordered me, “Do not come back here until he is elected as an MP. That is an order!”.

    Well, I have carried our his many orders. But this time, I was not sure. I am not a politician, first of all, and secondly, I am now familiar with yourself, Mr. Parkop. I did not know how rationally how I will carry out the order. But I knew many miracles had happened to me, in carrying out his orders. I said to my ancestors and all the heroes who died already for the cause,

    This is an order for us. Let us go together, Do not stay around here. You are spiritual beings, you are supposed to be powerful, omni-present, and you all must help me.

    when I came to see you, I was on the way back from our fellow Melanesian brothers ni-Vanuatu, in the Republic of Vanuatu.

    I was not sleeping well day and night. First of all, to make sure you will decide to campaign for an MP in PNG. It was at the right time, right person was ready. The Late Bill Skate passed away as the NCD Governor, and the city was about to hold a bi-election for the vacancy. In spiritual language, this is called, “co-incidence”, but modern people do not believe in it. We believe in it, we life in it, we breathe in it. I am true believer of a “co-incidence” and writing this letter is also another co-incidence.

    Yes, I had in my hand some Euros cash, that Gen. Wenda himself gave me personally, and told me, “Do not count it, just deliver it to him!” Yes, I did just what he said. You remember, I handed that over to you one evening after you finished giving a talk, one of the preliminary campaign activities during your first time involvement in politics.

    I stayed there with you, until I was assured and witnessed your own inauguration as the Governor of NCD (National Capital District) of our country Papua New Guinea. We also brought some elders all the way from West Papua. They told you,

    “We bring out votes from West Papua. All those dead ones, and all Papuans in West Papua’s votes are with us, in this bilum that we hand over to you.” then they gave you the Wamena Bilum.

    Those elders are still alive, and they always talk about you.

    I knew at the early stages during our short conversations, when you looked at me when I mentioned about the order. I knew that you did not want to believe this is a real order. But now three terms already you have been a politician, and I now hope you believe it, as it is real, not a plan, not a suggestion anymore.

    Since then, I never seen you. Now is already over 10 years. I have never met you as a Governor, but I did meet you four times when you were a lawyer, preparing yourself to become a politician.

    I know, as a politician, you are different from Lawyer Powes Parkop that I knew then, and that I can explain to myself here. But one thing that still the same is this, “Our struggle to free West Papua and Melanesia from colonialism and colonial influences.” Yes hat is right, because it is our right to do.

    On behalf of our ancestors, our heroes who died already in the jungles and in the villages, those who are still alive today all the way from Sorong to Samarai, on behalf of our future generations, and in the name of God the Creator and Ruler of Melanesia,

    “Contratulations!”

    Honourable Governor Powes Parkop MP

     

    Humbly Yours,

     

     

    Amunggut Tabi, Lt. Gen. WPRA

    BRN: A.DF 018676

    Personal Adviser to the WPRA Commander in Chief

  • Hon. Powes Parkop MP on The Vote of No Confidence

    The Vote of No Confidence’

    As a leader of a party within the governing coalition government led by Prime Minister O’Neil, and in my capacity as Governor of NCD, I welcome the decision of the Supreme Court to recall Parliament to deal with the Vote of No Confidence. After all the stress that the country has faced in the last nine or ten weeks and the continuous pressure by the opposition to use this mechanism to try to discredit the Government, the decision of the Court will give everyone an opportunity to settle this matter once and for all so that our people and our nation can hopefully heal and move on to address the many issues facing all of us as a nation.

    This is an opportunity for the Prime Minister to show if he still has the support of Parliament and the support of the people of our nation. It is also an opportunity for the Opposition to show if they have the numbers to carry out the Vote of No Confidence to change the Government. From here the public will be able to assess for themselves, if the decision to file the motion is genuine and not just a tactical ploy by the Opposition to create instability to the country.

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) helped form this current Government and as a party we are committed to remaining in Government. We are also committed to do whatever we can for national interest and for the interest of the people. As far as we are concerned, as members of the coalition government, there are no reasons to change the Government. The issue is with the Prime Minister and as Government of the day; we are still strong and delivering on all the policies that we have set out as mandated leaders and members of parliament.

    While welcoming the decision of the Supreme Court, I am concerned as to the extent and implications the decision of the Court may have on future governments. As far as I am aware of the law, the decision of the court is actually breaching on the doctrine of separation of powers, which is the foundation of our democracy. When parliament last met, the Vote of No Confidence motion was not a formal agenda of Parliament. If it was submitted, it was still the property of the permanent parliamentary committee of Private Members Bill. It was not on the parliament notice paper. When parliament was adjourned in the last sitting, we adjourned knowing that the notice for the motion of Vote of No Confidence was not a business of parliament yet as it was not on the notice paper. For the Supreme Court to order Parliament to be recalled and meet on a matter still before a parliamentary committee, who have not deliberated on its merits or demerits, and have not made any report to Parliament, clearly shows that the Court has gone beyond its bounds.

    I hope and appeal to both the Opposition Leader and the Speaker not to allow this decision to stand as precedence, as it will serve as a basis for continuous interference by the Court in the legislature in future. It is therefore important, for the sake of future parliaments, that this decision by the Supreme Court is challenged, perhaps at a later date, after parliament has dealt with the business of the motion of Vote of No Confidence this Friday.

    Thank you

    HON POWES PARKOP LLB LLM MP
    Parliamentary leader of Social Democratic Party

  • Vote of No Confidence Defeated

    EMTV – 22/07/2016 Serah Aupong

    The Vote of No Confidence has been defeated with an overwhelming 85 to 21 votes in favour of Peter O’Neill as Prime Minister in today’s special parliament sitting.

    The opposition came into the chamber knowing they didn’t have the numbers to win but used the opportunity to air their frustrations against the Prime Minister.

    At the end of the session, the opposition left disappointed not only at losing the vote but in what they claim as suppression to fully debate the motion.

    The government did what they promised, hold together and defeat the Vote of No Confidence. However before the vote was taken, there was over an hour of heated debate which included pointing of fingers, out of order point of orders and swearing.

    Keeping with the specifics of the court order, the speaker allowed debate before the vote was taken. Sam Basil as sponsor of the motion outlined the opposition’s reasons for the motion which included, the lack of debate of the 2016 budget, implementation of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Paraka payment issue, disbanding of taskforce sweep and the LNG revenue.

    Then Kelly Naru, who had declared allegiance to the rule of law during the week of lobbying, outlined legal reasons for siding with O’Neill.

    Following this, Kavieng member Ben Micah talked about telling the truth where he accused members of parliament of not taking into consideration the truth about issues that affect the nation.

    From the government, leader of Government Business and Finance Minister, James Marape, was the only one who spoke formally during the debate.

    He said the motion was “hollow” and was used to cause instability and chaos. He said the government has delivered on 90 per cent of its promises.

    Towards the end of Marape’s speech, the speaker stopped debate and moved to take the vote.

    This did not go down well with the opposition who still had plenty more to say.

    Member for Vanimo Green, Belden Namah, accused the speaker of hijacking the parliament procedure.

    His refusal to sit down, and the ensuring screaming match that followed from both sides of the house. In an attempt to restore order on the floor of parliament, the speaker stood up. According to parliamentary standing orders, when the speaker stands all members are to sit down.

    After reminding the house of that standing order, the parliament quietened down and the vote was taken.

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