By Norm Dixon
The Melanesian Solidarity members of the PNG parliament, led by Melsol general secretary Peti Lafanama and newly elected Western Highlands regional MP Father Robert Lak, have defended themselves against charges of betrayal for their decision to join the new coalition government led by Bill Skate.
The government includes the former government parties, Sir Julius Chan's People's Progress Party (PPP) and the Pangu Pati, led by Chris Haiveta. Chan and Haiveta were central to the decision to hire South African mercenaries to attack Bougainville.
Melsol leaders, including Lafanama and Lak, played leading roles in the mass demonstrations that helped defeat the Chan government's mercenary adventure after army commander Jerry Singirok rebelled.
Despite being defeated heavily in the elections — Chan and most of his ministers lost their seats, a direct result of their mercenary plan as well as their reputation for corruption — the PPP and Pangu have returned to the government benches. Haiveta has been reappointed deputy prime minister.
Before the election, Melsol candidates promised not to support PPP and Pangu in government. The MPs met with Melsol executive members on July 25 to explain their reasons for reneging on their commitment.
"The decision was painful but we had to do it to be in government and honour the Tufi Declaration [made between the People's Democratic Movement, People's National Congress, Melsol and the United Party] to support PNC leader Bill Skate for prime minister", Lafanama, who was elected Eastern Highlands MP, told the Port Moresby Post-Courier on July 26.
They could not form a government with Sir Michael Somare's National Alliance because Somare refused to step aside in favour of Skate. From the beginning Melsol, had supported Skate for the prime ministership above all other discredited elite politicians.
The Melsol bloc of MPs, of which only three were members of the radical activist Melsol organisation, numbered 13. Lafanama told the Post-Courier that the Melsol bloc was in government to ensure "stability, transparency and fairness in decision-making".
On July 24, Melsol executive member John Kowowo called "for the immediate dissolution of the current government of Papua New Guinea as it does not reflect the aspirations and wishes of the voters in the 1997 election. It is in the best interest of the people that the previous PPP/Pangu government which brought the country to the verge of financial and political collapse does not deserve to be in government again."
"Melsol expresses strongly that the current government was formed through political manipulation and, therefore, the general sentiment among the people of Papua New Guinea is that this is not a government that reflects their wishes ...
"We call on those elected members who were voted through people power and principle and not political manipulation to take a bold stand to bring this government immediately to an end."
The PNG Trade Union Congress also questioned the judgment of the Melsol MPs. TUC general secretary John Paska called for legislation to allow the majority of an electorate to call for a by-election if they believe the MP had abandoned the platform upon which he or she was elected.
Meanwhile, four NGO activists and Melsol leaders charged with unlawful assembly over their role in the demonstrations against the Sandline mercenaries in March had their case adjourned again until August 29. Jonathan O'ata, John Napu, John Kowowo and Powes Parkop were arrested on May 5 in a dawn raid by heavily armed police.
On July 28, Skate also ordered police to withhold further charges against military personnel and others involved in the rebellion against the Chan government's mercenaries. He ordered the release on bail of soldiers arrested over the March protests.
The decision followed the release of Singirok's second in command, Major Walter Enuma, from the Boroko police lock-up by armed soldiers. Soldiers also briefly held PNG Defence Force commander Brigadier-General Leo Nuia, appointed by Chan just days before the election, under house arrest at Port Moresby's Murray Barracks.
Skate ordered police commissioner Bob Nenta, another Chan appointee, and attorney general Sao Gabi to withhold charges until a new commission of inquiry with wider terms of reference into the mercenary affair was completed. Police were due to arrest Singirok on July 29.
Skate also ordered an immediate halt to all current military operations undertaken by Nuia and the elite Special Forces Unit on Bougainville and elsewhere. Nuia, known as the "Butcher of Bougainville", has reportedly been purging the PNGDF of troops who supported the demonstrations against the Chan government.