Can Namaliu Survive?

Opinion

The challenges are immense for PNG’s new Prime Minister

IRONY is never far from the surface in politics, though politicians are generally loath to admit it. Nowhere has this been more obvious than in Papua New Guinea, where recent events have demonstrated that a few hours can be just as long as time in a week.

Paias Wingti’s increasingly frantic (some would say ir rational) attempts to hold on to power were doomed from the moment he appointed a Cabinet weighted too openly in favour of fellow Highlanders, even to the extent of nam ing Thomas Negints, from Tambul Nebilyer electorate some 200 mountainous kilometres from the sea, as Min ister for Fisheries and Marine Resources in place of Pap uan Gulf representative Allan Ebu.

Government and Opposition members from Papua, Mamose and the New Guinea Islands rebelled.. .and the 11-month-old Wingti Government was ousted in an other superb piece of irony by only one vote less than it had needed to win office on a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister.

Rabbie Namaliu has a gigantic task ahead of him, and few would envy him the Augean labour he faces. He must unite a Parliament inured to instability and the ceaseless quest for numbers; he must forge a truly national Govern ment in a country where only a generation ago it was, in many areas, death to travel more than a day’s walk from one’s own village; he must create an atmosphere in which Papua New Guinea a land of breathtaking potential, and not only in resources can take its place as the stra tegic, economic and political leader of the region; and he must weld a nation from the raw materials of parochial ism, contempt for law, and horrifying predation on women, the weak and the poor.

Mr Namaliu must meet these challenges while Aus tralia, Indonesia, Japan and the United States are breath ing down his neck; and they are only the largest of the many players eager to win influence in this young democracy.

He must convince them that they cannot so easily criticise PNG’s political instability, lack of public order and cease less political machinations while they attempt to grab a share of the mineral and oil wealth.

Fortunately, the days are long gone when Pacific Is lands Monthly or any other publication would dare dic tate what “must” or “should” be done in any Pacific country. Today, the whole world watches Pacific events with renewed and somewhat bemused interest: the South Seas aura of indolence and indulgence has disappeared.

In its place there has emerged an appreciation of the geopolitical importance of Oceania, and a recognition that many of the ocean continent’s states “must” and “should” be allowed to progress in ways that suit their histories.

There is a new breed of Pacific leader at the helm; men and women who have experienced at first hand the decay and corruption of supposedly great nations, and who are determined to find a new, uniquely regional, approach to progress.

Rabbie Namaliu appears to possess exactly the right qualifications for his new position; rather like newly

elected French PM Michel Rocard, he is a pragmatist who believes, in his own words, in “democratic participatory government”. His career so far supports that less than startling statement. He may lack the wisdom and matu rity of Michael Somare, but he also lacks the unfettered ambition of his predecessor, and his practical ironi cally, one might even call it apolitical brand of politics may be exactly what Papua New Guinea needs.