10 May 2012
Moning tru olgeta
What kind of country does Papua New Guinea want to be? This is a question many are asking at the moment – inside and outside PNG. It’s not a question for outsiders to answer – and that includes Australian High Commissioners. It’s a question for the people of Papua New Guinea.
The great thing about democracy is that every few years – exactly five in PNG’s case – the People have the opportunity to help answer that question; to shape the future through their participation in national elections. Sovereignty is a word that is heard frequently in PNG. It’s often a reference to national sovereignty – and that principle is an important one. We’ve also seen debates raging over recent months about who is sovereign under PNG’s constitution – Parliament, the Executive, the Judiciary and so on. I’m not going to get into all that today, but I will say this. By declaring its commitment to elections according to the constitutional schedule, the O’Neill-Namah Government has signalled its understanding that it is ultimately the People who are sovereign in any democracy.
I think everyone knows Australia’s position on the importance of elections taking place in accordance with PNG’s constitution. We are a close friend of PNG, and we are a sovereign nation too. So we can confidently come to our own views, and determine our own approach, in working with our neighbours. As we’ve seen in the media over the last several weeks, our view about election timing is shared by many others in the international community. But much more importantly, it reflects the strong view of Papua New Guineans – including their current Head of Government. People from outside PNG often ask my view about recent developments in PNG. I tell them that, amidst all the political turbulence, the calm and determined approach of the PNG people, their firmly expressed views about the elections - whether via newspaper, on talkback radio or blogs - and the appropriate behaviour of the disciplined forces, are things to be admired. I tell them that these characteristics should encourage the international community when it thinks about PNG’s capacity to deal with the challenges it faces in 2012 – a watershed year for the country in many ways.
An enormous amount of work has been done now in preparation for the elections, including in relation to the electoral roll. This has been down to PNG leadership, but Australia has been proud to play its part. In addition to the team of ongoing Australian advisers working with the PNG Electoral Commission (including, notably, the former New Zealand Electoral Commissioner), we’ve had more than twenty specialists supporting the PNGEC for the last several weeks on issues ranging from roll quality to logistics and procurement. IT equipment and training has helped the PNGEC address the undoubted difficulties with some rolls. And we have made available Australian Defence Force assets and personnel to PNG for the conduct of the elections themselves – this will help with the movement of ballot materials and personnel across this beautiful and rugged country. Our friends the New Zealanders are also helping in this regard.
So that’s what Australia is doing, for its part, to help ensure elections on time, in accordance with Papua New Guinean intentions. But we can only provide support. It is for PNG to lead.
Nor do we Australians have a role in answering the core question facing the people of PNG as this important democratic moment approaches – what kind of country does PNG want to be? Good luck with your elections.
Banoho Namo Namo
Ian Kemish