Pacific Islands Monthly

Somare Accused Of Dictatorship

-And The Year's Just Begun!

From a Port Moresby correspondent

The National Party leader, and Natural Resources Minister, Mr Thomas Kavali, in January orches trated an amusing scene when he called for general elections this year.

Among the well-informed in Port Moresby there were a few appreci ative sniggers.

Few could take seriously a sen tence in Mr Kavali’s statement that read, “the National Party wants freedom and democracy to replace the Somare dictatorship”.

Mr Kavali’s gripe stems from December’s ministerial reshuffle. He is upset that the Prime Minister, Mr Michael Somare, did not consult him when making the changes.

The National Party is one of the three groups in the coalition govern ment. The others are Mr Somare’s Pangu Party, and the People’s Pro gress Party, to which the Finance Minister, Mr Chan, belongs.

Lashing out at Mr Somare, Mr Kavali said the Prime Minister was dictatorial and undemocratic in the way he had reshuffled the ministries.

From the outset, Mr Kavali’s grouch seemed a petty reason for forcing an early election. As well, his call was a complete reversal of the party’s stand last year to defer elections until 1977.

Nevertheless, he timed his state ment well. In his home region of the Highlands, there is a rumble over unfair distribution of jobs, both in the civil service and government ministries. The Highlanders, in a series of meetings, resolved to force an early election for a new govern ment and a better deal. They are now supported by their parliamen tarians on both sides of the House.

Whether or not the majority of the parliamentarians will call the same tune when the House meets again is another matter. Past form indicates that they will not. Who wants to lose the juicy benefits of being a parliamentarian? Most of

them also appreciate the gamble of re-election in a country whose poli tical party system has confounded even the best observers.

In the latest development, the op position leader, Mr Tei Abal, threw his weight behind the call for early elections, saying his United Party would seek a vote of no confidence in the government. Mr Abal said a stalemate in government could re sult if the struggle for power and leadership between the coalition partners continued.

In spite of the reassurances from Mr Abal, the strength and unity of his own United Party is open to question. He and his radical shadow minister for Defence, Foreign Rela tions and Trade, Mr Anton Parao, have been at loggerheads over the opposition leadership. At the height of the struggle, Mr Abal issued a writ against Mr Parao for slander— the matter has yet to be settled.

Perhaps the changing moods of

Mr Somare can best sum up the present situation.

The day Mr Kavali issued his statement, Mr Somare emerged from his office visibly angry. The morning after Mr Abal’s statement, he was in high spirits and was seen with an influential member of Mr Kavali’s National Party. The other night, among close friends, he quipped about the day Mr Kavali would take over.

If there is anyone who really wants an election it is Mr Somare himself. He does not need the finance wizards to tell him that the present economic cutbacks are only the start of a long, hard road towards econ omic self-reliance in Papua New Guinea.

In 1977, after two full years of economic problems, reflecting the world situation, he will have lost whatever capital his party could make out of claims that it was they who brought Papua New Guinea freedom and democracy—the ele ments that Mr Kavali now claims are lost.

Unnecessary spending by the

government is not helping the crisis that is besetting the country’s economy.

Early in January, an investment mission of six left for Europe to pro mote Papua New Guinea’s economy.

The size of the mission brought a public outcry from government officers who believed a smaller group would have achieved the same result while, at the same time, saving money.

In his battle against the crisis, the Finance Minister, Mr Chan, an nounced a five-point anti-recession programme. Measures like indexation and a cutback in spending have been implemented by the government. Mr Chan’s programme seeks to avoid ad-hoc planning in isolation by giving the government a package deal it can use while drawing up its strategy to fight recession.

A recent decision by Mr Somare

Mr Kavali . . . "The National Party wants freedom and democracy".

to cut back his salary by K 1,000 was questioned by one minister and also by the outspoken parliamentarian, Mr John Kaputin. Both the minister and Mr Kaputin believe such a move was not necessary. They said there were other effective measures that could have been used to save money.

Defending his decision, Mr Somare admitted that salary cuts would only have a small effect on the economic situation, but said that the people who made the point mis understand the reason for top-level :uts.

He said he decided to cut his salary to set an example and halt :he trend in Papua New Guinea to establish an elitist ruling minority.

Vlr Somare feels that the overall ifestyle of the elite must be modified.

In his criticism, Mr Kaputin 'ailed to touch on this particular joint.

On January 19. Mr lambakey Dkuk resigned as Minister for Edu cation but he will remain a member )f the National Parliament. An louncing his resignation from his Cundiawa home, Mr Okuk said he vould push for an early election this He said he would not accept )rders from a dictator. He had no teed for loyalty to the head of the ;overnment and the National Party lad sufficient support to stand on ts own.

Prime Minister Mr Somare had aid earlier that he had sent letters 0 both Mr Okuk and Mr Kavali.

Meanwhile, trouble is imminent n Bougainville again. Secessionists iving in government houses have efused to move out, despite eviction irders. Civil servants do not want to :et involved and have duck-shoved he matter to the National Executive 'ouncil (cabinet).

The government had ordered the ecessionists out on the basis that they ouldn’t have their cake and eat it do. They couldn’t live in government ouses and be disloyal to the central overnment.

On January 20, extra police were eing flown into Bougainville to back ossible National Government action gainst the secessionists and to block hreats of civil disorder.

The government forced the issue iter by issuing summonses against ight Bougainville leaders to appear 1 court to answer charges of un iwful occupation of government ouses.

Mr Somare piled on the agony by emanding from Mr Kavali a public pology for his “dictatorship” charge r he would have to resign or be acked. Mr Somare announced later lat he had removed both Mr Okuk nd Mr Kavali as negotiations proved ruitless.