Impunity Watch: Oceania

Papua New Guinea, Australia: Leaked report implicates PNG PM in Moti flight

On Monday, The Australian published details from a leaked inquiry report which implicated Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare in the flight of Julian Moti from PNG to the Solomon Islands in October, allegedly on the request of Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.  Moti is wanted in Australia on child-sex criminal charges, and is now attorney general for the Solomon Islands.

The leaked information comes from an inquiry report made by the PNG Supreme Court, which relies heavily on testimony from the director-general of National Security Co-ordiantion and Assessment, Joseph Assaigo, and  that of defense force commander Alois Ur.  Their testimony indicates that Somare ordered or allowed Moti to be flown from PNG to the Solomons, and that Moti was smuggled out of his refuge in the Solomon Islands high commission in PNG.  A subsequent report calls for charges to be filed against Somare for his participation in these actions, and also against members of his government for the same.  Somare has kept the reports suppressed.

Since news of this report came to light, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has called for the PNG government to release the report on the theory that, if it is true, it is of great importance to Australia because the charges against Moti are still pending.  In response to Downer and the media, which is also calling for release of the report, Somare said, "You can tell them to go to hell."

In other comments, Somare said that it was up to the PNG Cabinet whether the document would be released.  He told Radio New Zealand, "We are not going to just listen to outsiders, our critics, to tell us what to do.  No, I have got a country to run and other people [should] mind their own business.  Now Moti is nothing to do with us, he is an Australian citizen and it's Australia's business to deal with the Solomon Islands and not Papua New Guinea."

Domestically, opposition MPs are calling for release of the report in PNG, and in the Solomons, Sogavare is facing a no-confidence vote in August based mainly on his actions regarding Moti.

Please see also:
"Scrambling for cover"  The Australian  (30 July 2007)
"Release PNG report, says Downer"  The Australian  (30 July 2007)
"Australia's foreign minister wants PNG government to release inquiry into Julian Moti"  Radio New Zealand International  (30 July 2007)
"PNG leader says it will be Cabinet's decision whether to table Moti inquiry report"  Radio New Zealand International  (30 July 2007)
"PNG's Somare on Moti inquiry: 'Go to hell' "  Pacific Islands Report  (31 July 2007)*
"Butt out on Moti, says Somare"  The Australian  (31 July 2007)

*This article is a reprint  of an article initially appearing in PNG's The National.

Fiji Interim Finance Minister Probed Over Alleged Tax Evasion

During the coup last December, insurgent forces proclaimed that they were taking power so that they could root out corruption and restore the rule of law to the people of Fiji.  This mantra has been repeated incessantly as national and international observers have wondered at questionable practices that the interim government has engaged in since taking power.  Up to now the questions of whether the interim government could put its money where its political mouth is have been more speculative, but allegations emerged in the last few days that might implicate a senior interim finance minister (he has remained unnamed to date), which will determine if the government will place morals over cronyism and launch a full scale investigation against one of their own.

The senior minister has been accused of not reporting up to 107,000 USD a year.  The Fiji Daily post has reported that the minister has been investigated at least four times by the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority.  Kenneth Zinck, general secretary of the authority's Staff Authority, has been vocal about his call for an investigation.  He insists that if the interim government is able to march in and proclaim an end to corruption then they should not turn a blind eye to these allegations.  He also insists that if the interim government can categorically remove the tax files of suspended chief justice, Daniel Fatiaki, they should do the same for the finance minister. 

It would appear that Zinck's wishes are being at least partially fulfilled as the Fiji government has already taken affirmative steps into looking into this scandal, but those steps have been those that Zinck would likely approve.  The Fiji Daily Post has reported that its own Chief of Staff Imanueli Tumoi has been brought in by the Fiji military for questioning in regards to this story and its reporting.  In reponse to the Daily Post's story reporting Tumoi's detention, Colonel Pita Driti told the Fiji Times Online that no one that he knew of had been taken in and the would certainly be the first to know. 

For more, please see:
"Calls to probe alleged tax evasion of Fiji interim minister" Radio New Zealand International (31 July 2007)
"Chief of Staff Questioned" Fiji Daily Post News (31 July 2007)
"Call for interim minister probe" Fiji Times Online  (31 July 2007)

Tonga Government Attacks Pro-Democracy Newspaper

The Tongan Government has verbally chastised the pro-democracy newspaper Kele'a and has threatened legal action over what it insists are low standards of journalism.  The government's primary complaint is that the paper ran an item that equated the Tongan Prime Minister Dr. Feleti Sevele with the Anti-Christ by saying that the number of letters in all of Sevele's names equals 666.  The government further claims that this is yet another instance of the pro-democracy movement, or "temo", expressing feelings of jealousy towards the ruling government. 

The editor of Kele'a, Tavake Fusimalohi, insisted that his paper still upheld the its journalistic integrity and had not done anything improper, because the piece that made the equation between Sevele and the Beast of the Book of Revelation was a letter to the editor and not an official story written by any of Kele'a's staff writers.  He went on to say that, “I see nothing there controversial or harmful to the Prime Minister. This man [the letter writer] seemed to work out quite well by counting - it is not an article, it is a letter to the editor and I admire his thoughts and if I say, creativity, I thought it worth publishing.”

This is not the first time that Kele'a and other pro-democracy media outlets have come under fire in Tonga.  Recently,  Kalafi Moala, who is the media consultant to the Tongan prime minister, expressed personal animosity for a number of regional reporters who had spoken out with public criticisms for countries of which they were not citizens.  His argument seemed to be that if the journalist did not live there, then they had no right to comment on local practice and that to do so would be to spread misinformation to those living outside the region.  Kalafi's own paper, Taimi 'o Tonga, has made several attacks against other regional news outlets, notably  TV OBN and Kele'a, for their pro-democracy stances.  Detractors claim that the lead reporters for those organizations are highly skilled journalists who have upheld the very standard of journalistic ethics and that the true source of Tonga misinformation is coming from the Tongan government itself, particularly Prime Minister Sevele. 

For more please see:
"Tonga government claims hate campaign being run by Kele'a newspaper" Radio New Zealand International (26 July 2007)
"Tonga newspaper dismisses government criticism over 'hate campaign'"  Radio New Zealand International  (26 July 2007)
"From the critical eyes of Kele'a" Tonga Star (26 July 2007)

Solomon Islands: Legal gun owners will be compensated; rearmament of police force controversial

The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) entered the Solomon Islands as a peace keeping force in 2003 in response to deadly ethnic conflict between Guadalcanal and Malatian militants.  During this time, RAMSI asked that all guns be turned in to further the effort to restore order.  The confiscated weapons were then damaged and buried to prevent them from being used again.  However, almost 1000 legal gun owners turned in their guns alongside those of the militiants.  They threatened to sue the government a few months after this occurrance.  The Solomon Star reported today that the government has agreed to compensate these legal gun owners, though the issue is still "hotly debated."

On Tuesday, RAMSI marked its fourth year in the Solomon Islands. Special Coordinator Tim George believes that in the past year, dialogue has improved between RAMSI, the Solomons, and the Pacific Islands Forum.  [The Pacific Islands Forum heads a review process in which the Forum, the Solomons, and RAMSI review the mission's progress and problems.]  He also believes that there is a better awareness of Solomons custom and culture among RAMSI advisors, who are now offered language training and courses on cultural orientation.  A public opinion poll in the Solomon Star showed strong support for RAMSI among civilians.

To celebrate this anniversary, RAMSI arranged an evening of Pacific Islands food and entertainment, at which Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was to be the chief guest.  However, Sogavare never arrived.  The Prime Minister does have a history of tension with RAMSI, having engaged in what the Solomon Star describes as "a bitter media attack" on RAMSI earlier this year, but had recently seemed to have shifted his position.

Police were also disarmed by RAMSI in 2003, and recently Sogavare's government has stated that it plans to re-arm sections of the local police force.  This may be related to police Superintendent Gwen Ratu's statements given to the Commission of Inquiry regarding police inefficency during the April election riot.  She said, "The police are just human beings, one can't expect us to withstand our groups whilst rain of stones come pouring down on us by the people. ...  Even though we were verbally abused by our own people and unarmed, we stood firm in trying to settle the situation and also confronting the crowd in a way that would be appreciated by them."  Ratu asked at one point, "How can you expect the police to contain a crowd frustrated at what had happened using only his [sic] bare hands, especially when they are outnumbered?  It is just impossible for such to happen."

However, this decision has four Guadalcanal MPs threatening to leave the government.  Walter Naezon, a Guadalcanal chief, stated that the government should pay attention to public concern over the issue.  He said, "If he [Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare] sees the pressure from the people over what his government's doing, he should voluntarily step down -- for the good of this country.  I give credit to the members of parliment from Guadalcanal if they resign, if the Prime Minister continues to do that."  The MPs have stated that they have no problems with the appointments of Police Commissioner Jahir Khan or Julian Moti, though the Guadalcanal leaders to have objections to both appointments and have requested that they be rescinded.

Please see also:
"Compensation talk for guns"  Solomon Star  (26 July 2007)
"RAMSI may compensate legal gun owners"  Pacific Magazine  (26 July 2007)
"Police without riot gear"  Solomon Star  (26 July 2007)
"4 years on ... working in partnership"  Solomon Star  (25 July 2007)
"PM stays away"  Solomon Star  (25 July 2007)
"Guale MPs may quit over rearmament"  Solomon Star  (25 July 2007)
"Solomon Islands provincial leaders say PM should take heed of public concern"  Radio New Zealand International  (25 July 2007)
"Four Solomons ministers threaten to resign"  Pacific Magazine  (25 July 2007)


* Impunity Watch articles on Moti's appointment and some of its messy diplomatic aftermath can be found here and here.

French Polynesia: Sang's government remains in power despite turmoil

French Polynesian government president Tong Sang remains in power this week, despite growing turmoil caused by his own party withdrawing from the majority.  He retains the support of the minimum number of seats (29 of 57 overall) required to support his government, though party members had voted to withdraw their seventeen seats from the majority.

Gaston Flosse, 76, has headed Tahoera'a Huiraatira party for over 25 years, and has been president of French Polynesia for most of that time.  He is currently Tahiti's senator in France.  While Flosse backed Sang when he was elected in December,  "generational differences between the two men have become more evident each month," according to Tahitipresse.

Sang's coalition group consists of the 17 Tahoera'a Huiraatira seats, 11 seats from the Polynésie Ensemble party, and one unaligned seat of former government minister Michel Yip.  He is opposed by Oscar Temaru's Union for Democracy 26-seat coalition group.  (Temaru was the subject of an Impunity Watch article here for use of racial slurs.)  Since the Assembly is not in session, there is no way to examine whether Sang's government does still control the required 29 seats.

Last Wednesday, five of Sang's fifteen ministers submitted a joint resignation, and  Tahoera'a Huiraatira confirmed that it would withdraw its 17 seats from the majority.  However, that evening, he said "I'll go to the end of my mission," during a television interview, meaning that he intended to stay on until May 2009, when the next election is scheduled.  During the same interview, Sang mentioned that he had met with his resigning ministers because "They wanted to give an explaination.  They feel like victims in this situation."  He added that the resignations were "linked to the decision of the executive office of Tahoera'a to pull out of the majority."  Sang also seemed unsure of why Flosse would suddenly withdraw his support and that of the party.  "I did not betray the party," Sang told his interviewer, "I respected my commitments in front of the population."  When asked about rumors of a censure to remove his government, Sang commented, "I don't live by rumors.  I live by daily reality."

As of this morning, one of the five resigning ministers has chosen to keep their post.  Sang has yet to accept the resignations of the other four.  He said he will postpone accepting them until after the Great Council meeting of the Tahoera'a Huiraatira party.

This weekend, it came out that Flosse and Temaru had met and decided to form a new coalition government of their own.  Flosse and Temaru have been political foes since the beginning of Flosse's political career, as Temaru leads a pro-independence party and Flosse leads a pro-France party.  The plan is alleged to be to join forces to call for a no-confidence vote to oust Sang's government, then to ask France to dissolve Parliment and call for a general election at the end of this year.

The Memorandum of Understanding include asking France to become an "associate country", negotiating with France for greater autonomous powers, and renaming the country to "Tahiti Nui," though self-determination would not be pursued for at least twenty years.  In a press conference, Flosse made what Tahitipresse called "one of the most staggering comments he has made" in the thirty-year duration of his political career: "Each one keeps his own political positions.  We are not going to ask Temaru to renounce independence and we remain pro-autonomy."

Christian Estrosi, French Assistant Minister for Overseas, stressed the need for the political situation in French Polynesia to stabilise, and that those involved needed to "act responsibly."  He said, "The time is no longer for controversies, destabilisation, and internal struggles.  I am calling on everyone to strengthen French Polynesia's credibility in the eyes of French citizens from metropolitan and overseas France. ... I am calling on everyone to choose public interest and to leave aside party interests."

Flosse retorted, "We have this message from Mr. Estrosi and I would like to tell him that the days of colonialism, where the secretary of state for overseas is dictating the conduct of French Polynesia's politicians, are gone.  We are old enough and we do not need to be lectured."

Please see also:
"Tong Sang government holding together despite shaky pro-autonomy platform"  Tahitipresse  (18 July 2007)
"A determined Tahiti president announces: 'I'll go to the end of my mission.' "  Tahitipresse  (19 July 2007)
"Former political enemies allegedly behind French Polynesia turmoil"  Pacific Magazine  (20 July 2007)
"Flosse woos Temaru on TV to form new Tahiti government"  Tahitipresse  (20 July 2007)
"French Polynesia's Flosse confirms talks with Temaru"  Oceania Flash  (23 July 2007)
"Now only 4 Tahiti government ministers want to resign"  Tahitipresse  (24 July 2007)

Please note that both Tahitipresse and Oceania Flash require registration to view articles.

Troubling Signals from the Fijian Government Employment Market

Since coming to power last December, there have been a number of governmental appointments that have raised eyebrows among international observers.  From suspected nepotism in the appointment of election judges and local officials to the widespread replacement of Fijian police personnel with their army counterparts, there has be no lack of controversy coming from the Island Nation.  This week has brought to further signals that have arisen that might once again signal that the interim government's goal of rooting out corruption is not proceeding on its ideal course. 

The first comes from the realm of electoral appointment.  In the wake of the coup the international community put significant pressure on the government of Fiji to reestablish democratic elections and allow the rule of law to determine who ought to rule Fiji.  The government's current stance is that no such election would be possible until at least the end of next year.  Recent revelations might force the government to push this date even further back.  Fijilive reports that there is such low interest in the position of Fiji Supervision of Elections, that, to date, only one person has applied for the positions.  While the government did not speculate regarding why this position only generated one applicant, they have moved to re-advertise the position in the hopes of attracting new individuals to express interest. 

In other news, a number of Fiji's top foreign diplomats are being recalled and replaced by members of the Fiji military, loyal to the interim government.  Perhaps most notably, Lieutenant Colonel Mason Smith has been tapped to act as Fiji's emissary to the United Nations in New York.  At present the United States has a travel ban in effect against all Fiji military officials, not terribly dissimilar from New Zealand's travel ban.  At present the two countries are in talks to secure Smith a visa so that he can enter the United States, but at the date of this writing the government would not confirm if a visa had been issued.  This military appointment comes on the heels of Fiji appointing Fiji military spokesman Major Neumi Leweni as Fiji's defence attache to China.  The interim government insists that these moves (along with the recall of diplomats to New Zealand, Australia, PNG and Malaysia) are simply the replacement of employees of an ousted government and that those people selected are not so because they are members of the military, but because they are the most qualified individuals for their particular appointment.

Please see also:
"Envoy posts for Fiji Soldiers" The Australian (20 July 2007)
"Low interest in Fiji poll chief position" Fijilive (24 July 2007)

Fiji: Former VP suggests investigation of judiciary

Former Vice President and former High Court judge Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi has suggested that a commission be established to look into the state of the judiciary.  He told members of the Fiji Law Society that the divide in the judiciary, stemming from the 2000 coup, must be dealt with because it is compromising the good standing of the courts.  The commission would be established with broad terms of reference, would look into what type of role, in any, judges played in the 2000 and 2006 coups, and would make recommendations for the future, including "sweeping" personnel changes.  Madraiwiwi said, "While the time to move on is now perhaps appropriate, the commission would assist in giving some directions to the judiciary and the profession.  In looking back at the operation of the High Court, one is non plussed at the extent to which the protagonists have pursued conflicting agendas and motives oblivious or uncaring about the common weal."

Madraiwi also said that cases concerning the validity of the 2006 coup must be allowed to proceed without interference, though if those cases conclude that the coup was invalid, people should not expect the military to step down.  He believes that this compromise, along with political amnesty, would allow the cases to be settled in an appropriate manner.

Lawyer Graham Leung agrees that changes need to be made.  "Confidence in the judiciary to deliver competent and impartial justice according to law is an essential political ingredient that will foster political stability, enabling an environment conductive to economic growth and national development," he said.  He called on the Bar and the Bench to deal with the fragmented judiciary with decisive action, especially since cases dealing with important constitutional and other issues will come before the courts in the coming months.

Leung is currently under a travel ban, for "going overseas and misleading people about what is happening in Fiji" according to Radio New Zealand's report on statements made by interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama.  Bainimarama asked why Fijian lawyers are defending their own right to travel, but have not protested the travel bans levied against the interim regime by Australia and New Zealand.  Leung was supposed to speak in New Zealand at the Pacific Cooperation Foundation conference, but was turned away from his flight on Monday.

Please see also:
"Madraiwiwi: Fix judiciary"  Fiji Times  (21 July 2007)
"Leung spells out way forward"  Fiji Times  (21 July 2007)
"Madraiwiwi: Investigate judiciary"  Fiji Times  (21 July 2007)
"Bainimarama: Leung can stowaway"  Fiji Times  (17 July 2007)
"Fiji PM defends reasons for travel ban on lawyer"  Radio New Zealand International  (17 July 2007)
"NZ foundation dismayed at Fiji travel ban imposed on top lawyer"  Radio New Zealand International  (16 July 2007)

Northern Mariana Islands: Local government opposes federalization of immigration system

The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands is a dependent territory of the United States, which means it is bound by U.S. federal law and legislation.  However, since it became a Commonwealth of the United States in 1970, CNMI has handled its own immigration.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs David Cohen is pushing for immigration in CNMI to be "federalized as soon as possible" because of an ineffective pre-screening process for aliens entering the country, an "uncooperative stance" on refugee protection, and a human trafficking problem.  He was careful to add that S.1634 would not set a precedent relevant to national immigration reform.

Impunity Watch has reported on the drafts of Senate Bill 1634 and reactions here.  In that article, we reported that the bill would grant documented foreign workers with at least five years in the CNMI the same immigration privileges as those enjoyed by citizens of the Freely Associated States (Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia), which would deprive the government of labour and immigration fees.  There are concerns that the Department of Homeland Security's grant of lawful non-immigrant status to "all eligible workers and their spouses and children" would harm the indigenous population, and there are also concerns regarding the discrepancies between the CNMI bill and the national (United States) immigration bill.

CNMI governor Benigno Fitial said today, regarding the proposed change in legal status of alien workers, "The bill's drafters chose to ignore that such an enhanced status was not permitted or contemplated when these workers elected voluntarily to come to the CNMI many years ago to enjoy the economic opportunities available in CNMI."  He continued, "The Senate debate on immigration suggests that such a provision would never have been supported on a national level -- either because it looks like an amnesty provision or because it imposes an enormous burden on the commonwealth of permanent resident aliens numbering about twenty-five percent of the local U.S. citizen population."

During the public hearing conducted today, Cohen was extremely critical of CNMI's processes and its concerns about the effect the bill would have on its own population.  He said that those concerns "must not be used as an excuse to delay" the federalization of its immigration system.  The CNMI attorney general recently refused to turn over information regarding some of its refugees to the U.S., which Cohen views as an inability to distinguish between an inappropriate influence on a refugee hearing and attempts by federal agencies to monitor those hearings.  Cohen also said that, "In a post-9/11 environment, and given the CNMI's location and the number of aliens that travel there, we believe that continued local control of the CNMI's immigration system presents significant national security and homeland security concerns."  He cited statistics that human trafficking in CNMI is 8.8 to 10.6 times more prevalent than in the rest of the United States, and said that the calculation is conservative and "makes the CNMI look better than it actually is."

Governor Fitial opposes the bill on economic grounds, stating that it would cripple current attempts to bolster CNMI's struggling economy and that it would prevent such attempts in the future.  The bill requires five different U.S. departments to impliment it, forcing potential investors to deal with the U.S. bureaucracy, even if they only want to appraise prospects in CNMI.  Fitial emphasized the improvements his administration has made in the past year, including solving three thousand labour disputes.  He told the Saipan Tribune, "In CNMI, one can no longer break the rules or ignore the rules.  We have done a lot of belt-tightening.  So give us time.  This bill is spooking investors and they will run to another location."

The governor was also dismayed that the summary description of CNMI distributed to committee members was substantially comprised of information that was more than five years out of date.  "The drafters of S.1634 seemingly have no concern about the impact of this provision on the integrity and vitality of the indigenous Carolinian and Chamorro peoples in the Commonwealth."

In CNMI, alien workers have begun boycotting businesses owned by those who oppose the U.S. Senate bill, in particular those owned by the family of Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Juan Guerrero.  Guerrero is with Fitial in Washington to testify against S.1634.  Guerrero told Marianas Variety via e-mail, "I don't even want to discuss specifics of what I believe is best, because before that even matters, we need to convince the federal government that they have an obligation to everyone in the CNMI to conduct a serious factual study and then to work with us to craft an agreeable real-world solution that addresses everyone's concerns.  If the federal government is simply going to impose their will on us, then what I personally believe doesn't really matter."

Please see also:
"Cohen: NMI immigration must be federalized"  Marianas Variety  (20 July 2007)
"Alien workers to boycott anti-federalization businesses"  Marianas Variety  (20 July 2007)
"S.1634 will damage the NMI economy"  Saipan Tribune  (20 July 2007)

PDF of S.1634 Government Printing Office  (accessed 19 July 2007)

Solomon Islands, Australia: Solomons will not ban Australian MPs

Outraged at the appointment of Julian Moti as attorney general for the Solomon Islands (see Impunity Watch report here), Australia seems to have barred Solomons MPs from entering or traveling through Australia.  This comes on the heels of a newspaper campaign by Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer, where Downer published open letters in Solomon Islands newspapers criticizing Moti's appointment.

However, despite early reports to the contrary, the Solomons will not retaliate in kind.  Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has said that any such move would be "immature."  He has also commented on Downer's newspaper letters, saying that Downer has "belittled his status" by using newspapers as a forum, rather than going through the Australian High Commissioner.  Sogavare said that there was "no reason under the sun" why Downer would express Australia's views directly to the people through the media, now that there is an Australian High Commissioner.

Last week, two Solomon Islands ministers attempted to travel through Australia on a return trip from Europe.  Downer decided that their presence would be antithetical to Australia's foreign policy interests, and their travel visas were cancelled.

After Australian High Commissioner Patrick Cole was expelled from the Solomon Islands in September of last year, the Australian government abrogated Australian visas held by all members of the Solomon Islands Parliment at the time.  In late April, certain Solomons government ministers were allowed to travel to Brisbane for the unveiling of Solomon Airlines plane.  Following Moti's appointment, there seems to be a strict ban in place, though the Australian High Commission in the Solomon Islands has denied that there is a visa ban.

According to the Australian High Commission, since the original 2006 revocation of multiple-entry visas, Solomons MPs have been required to reapply each time they wish to travel through or to Australia, and that visas are considered on a case-by-case basis.  "All Members of Parliment were free to apply for a visa.  A travel ban never existed," the High Commission said in a press statement.  It also said that since October 2006, it has received 47 visa requests from Solomons MPs, 44 of which were approved.

Please see also:
"PM backs off Aussie bans"  Solomon Star  18 July 2007
"Australia denies visa ban"  Solomon Star  18 July 2007
"Solomons PM criticises Downer over Moti comments"  Australian Broadcasting Corporation  18 July 2007
"Solomons denies plans to ban visits from Aust politicians"  Australian Broadcasting Corporation  17 July 2007
"Angry PM may ban Aussies"  Solomon Star  17 July 2007
"Travel ban for MPs"  Solomon Star  17 July 2007

Transparency International Reports that Electoral Malpractice Rife in PNG

Transparency International (TI), an international  electoral watchdog group, has said, through PNG secretary Richard Kassman, that  there are widespread electoral irregularities that could lead to influence on the final outcomes.  The PNG Post-Courier has reported on a number of such irregularities.

- In the Capital District Regional seat, a total of 3115 informal ballots have been cast.  In the East New Britain Provincial seat 2667 informal ballots had been recorded.  This trend of increased informal ballots can be seen across the board of PNG's electoral landscape.  Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen has stated that there are two possible reasons for the increased number of informal ballots in this election.  The first is that not enough was done to instruct the populace on the new Limited Preferential Voting system.  The second is that, in the words of Trawen, "It could be because not enough awareness was conducted."  Tawen also said that, “We have done what we can. But there is also room of human error during polling."  It remains to be seen how these informal ballots will affect the final outcome of the election.

- The National Court in Waigan has refused to allow recount petitions filed by Lae Open candidates.  The candidate's petitions wished to have a court order entered that would declare all preferential votes cast in the Lae Open seat be declared null and void.  The candidates also wished to replace the counting officials because they were personal friends and relatives of the sitting PM Bart Philemon.  The court rejected this request and declared that any such proceeding would be premature at this time.  With 55 polling boxes counted so far the sitting parliamentarian and New Generation Party Leader Philemon was in the lead over his nearest competitor, Mathew Minape, by nearly 3,000 votes.

- 35 candidates have cited counting discrepancies for the Wewak Open seat, suspending the counting in that district.  The candidates formally submitted their complaints to John Alman, East Sepik provincial administrator,  calling for the removal of Wewak's returning officer, Martin Maingu, and his officers, to be replaced by new officers from neighboring districts.  The complaining counting claimed that the ballot boxes had been tampered with and that some districts heavy with certain candidate's friends and family had not been allowed to vote.  The candidates called for the voting to continue into the night and for the location of the voting be changed to thwart possible foul play.

- Kassman has also given a firsthand account of the behavior that has lead to his statements.  “One of my directors saw where the first preferences were all ticked and it was openly explained to the observation team that people in that village, in that locality, had agreed that all ones would go to one particular candidate and therefore it was necessary that people vote, so they marked it for them, in the presence and the eyes of the presiding officers, so this sort of carry on did take place in a lot of areas.”

Please see also:
"Observers say electoral malpractice rife in PNG election" Radio New Zealand International  (16 July 2007)
"Observers say electoral malpractice rife" Pacific Magazine  (17 July 2007)
"Wewak Open Counting Halted" Download wewak_open_counting_halted.txt  PNG Post-Courier (17 July 2007)
"Court Rejects Re-Count Bid" Download court_rejects_recount_bid.txt PNG Post-Courier (17 July 2007)
"Count High on Informal Votes" Download count_high_on_informal_votes.txt PNG Post-Courier (17 July 2007)