A few years back, I published an article here on PNG Echo entitled ‘An ill wind blows in Bougainville” and it seems that the wind has still not abated but is it gathering momentum?
It is well-known that the potentially fatal flaw in the Bougainville Peace Agreement is that the government of PNG has the last say – it can choose to ratify independence (or whatever the outcome of the referendum) or not. It has the ultimate get-out-of-jail-free card and, by all accounts, is gearing up to use it.
Just today, Prime Minister James Marape has given everyone a public reminder of the non-binding nature of the referendum as stated in ‘Post Courier’. He told his audience that after the referendum the GovPNG and the ABG would “deliberate” on the matter and then decide on how they will proceed.
It has me pondering what’s the point of the referendum. Does it just cynically fulfil treaty obligations in order to give a cursory nod at democracy? In this scenario, the question is: will the will of the people be the overriding factor in the “deliberations?”
The vultures have already been circling Bougainville, looking for opportunities – see here.. Will these ‘opportunities’ for commercial conglomerates hellbent on their own profits also be the opportunities the ‘insiders’ (ie the respective governments and their hangers on) find too attractive to be resisted?
Is the prevailing ‘ill-wind’ poised to become a tempest – just like it did just a few decades ago? It could happen if the Government of PNG and the Autonomous Bougainville Government believe they do not have to heed the lessons of a very bloody history.
At this moment, Bougainville needs more than a referendum, it needs contingency plans of how it will react if the respective governments do not honour their wishes – as expressed by the results of the referendum.
The writing is on the wall – Bougainville, you have been told. Your fate is not in your hands – it never was. Your fate will be decided by the good or ill grace of the Government of PNG (in deliberations with the ABG, apparently). It’s a lottery.
A few words rom the wise
I recently received these words from Chief Simon Pentanu, Speaker of the ABG. Timely words, under the circumstances.
“There will never be a time when we will know everything just as there will never be a time when we can totally get rid of corruption. But try we must however difficult, frustrating or preposterous it might seem.
A good place to start is with ourselves. How to start is to stop playing double standards. As leaders we must never pretend things are fine or that we are blameless. When it comes to good governance the buck stops with us. There are many real examples in countries beset by corrupt practices where elected leaders are blinded by political power and prowess and start saying, “do as I say but don’t do as I do”.
We must all make every effort to arrest the fruition and prevalence of corruption from the top to the bottom. The so called third word, or developing countries for want of a better description, should stop at nothing. This means, no one should be spared the brunt of the law from elected leader to astray paupers when it comes down to enforcing laws from misdemeanours to serious attempts to defraud to criminal negligence.
For its part the Legislature as the highest accountability body in the land must put in place safeguards in legislation to promote good governance and enforce and prosecute bad governance.
For its part the Executive must provide sufficient resources to ensure oversight bodies are properly resourced and funded. Independent institutions created to maintain oversight must do their work independent of the thoughts and influence of others, especially anyone that may be prepared to stifle their duties and responsibilities.
For its part the Judiciary must enforce the laws without fear or favour. Independence of the judiciary is almost sacrosanct. It has often proved to be the last bastion of people’s hope when they question the propriety and legitimacy of decisions of Parliament and Governments. There is so much at stake and there is a lot we can learn from elsewhere what happens when the judiciary is compromised.
Having said all of the above it was always heartening to see this at work as a young public servant growing up in a young country in the early formative years in PNG the comity – respect and understanding if you like – between these three Arms of Government.
When people practice what they say in respect of their roles and responsibilities the citizens and the civil society are beneficiaries of their good and well considered decisions. Governments after all, in any democracy, are in place for the ostensible purpose of serving and acting for and on behalf of the people’s interest and wellbeing.”
