Putting People Before Politics

Opinion

Arch-enemies Wingti and Somare’s coalition is PNG’s only hope for unity.

APRIL WAS perhaps PNG’s most momentous month since Independence. It was certainly its most tumultuous. For much of the period, because of a series of political crises, an escalation of lawlessness, and vicious rumours concerning personal improprieties in high places, the nation seemed on the verge of chaos, its institutions in danger of disintegration. The atmos phere in Port Moresby was electric as public faith in the powers of government and the motives of the country’s leaders reached a nadir.

As this parlous situation came to a head the Prime Minister Paias Wingti and the leader of the opposition Pangu Pati Michael Somare on April 20 made a stunning announcement. They would join forces in a grand coali tion. The move was met with scepticism at first. The one time firm friends had become implacable foes. But scep ticism was soon replaced by the realisation that the alli ance of the PNG giants may well be the nation’s only hope of stability.

On April 11, Parliament resumed for the first time in seven months. Two and a half hours later it was sus pended. In so doing, Mr Wingti had defused a vote of no confidence in him that seemed likely to succeed. Mr Ted Diro was then named Special Minister of State assisting the Prime Minister. The opposition cried “dictatorship”.

The credibility of Mr Wingti was in tatters. The Govern ment was hopelessly divided.

Most of the blame for this untenable situation must be sheeted home to the disruptive and destabilising Mr Diro and his People’s Action Party (PAP). Although corruption allegations against him remained unresolved, Mr Diro had continued in a naked bid for power, seemingly without regard for the damage he was doing to the Government and the nation.

Thirty minutes before Parliament resumed on April 11, Mr Diro is understood to have handed Mr Wingti a list of non-negotiable demands. Failure to grant them, he warned, would result in the PAP defecting to the opposi tion to topple the Government. The demands were as ar rogant as they were unrealistic: the appointment of Mr Diro as Special Minister of State by 11.30 that morning; his appointment as Deputy Prime Minister within one month; PAP ministries in the Government be increased from five to seven, and include the portfolios of Foreign Affairs and Finance and Planning; the Commission of In quiry into the Forest Industry be scrapped.

Mr Wingti, it is understood, acceded to these de mands, appointing Mr Diro Special Minister of State and adjourning Parliament.

In the days that followed, according to sources close to the severely compromised PM, Mr Wingti underwent a crisis of conscience as well he might. After some sleep less nights, he decided to put paid to Diro’s destabilising influence by getting into bed with Mr Somare in what at first seemed a blatant marriage of convenience. This new grand coalition (which includes the Peoples’ Progress Party of Sir Julius Chan) does not need the PAP for a ma

jority, and its formation therefore skittled the obnoxious ambitions of Mr Diro.

Mr Wingti and Mr Somare say their alliance will re store stability and provide the means whereby the issues that have rent PNG may be addressed and solved. The pair have pledged to put egos and personal animosity aside in the interest of the nation. They must now tackle the problems of lawlessness, media censorship, misbehav iour and corruption in high places, impediments to the rural development program and the crisis in education.

PNG’s neighbours have no choice but to wish the new administration well and to support it so long as the lead ers stay true to their promise to put the nation before their own factional interests. Events will move rapidly over the coming weeks and no one can predict the detailed form of PNG’s new Government. Although composed of odd bedfellows indeed, it may well be the only hope for a coun try desperately in need of unity. □