Monday 9th of May 2016
was supposed to have been the day when PNG arise to demand the government to
address critical issues of national importance. Most Papua New Guineans were
led to believe that a nationwide protest will be staged by concerned NGOs.
Certainly the morning of that Monday was surrounded by a different vibe to the
familiar hustle and bustle that we have come to know in Port Moresby. Most schools were closed and only few people
commuted to work. I made up my mind over the weekend that I would join in the
protest by staying away from work as requested by the NGOs regardless of what
happened. As far as I am concerned that is the least I could do to show my
frustration towards this government. A lot of things that have transpired in
the last few months have created an aura of confusion, doubts and anger among
the general populous. With the University students continuing their boycott and
the NGOs and Trade Union Congress expressing concern over the government’s
handling of the nation’s affairs; there was a strong feeling of uncertainty and
anxiety.
The police as usual were in no
mood to entertain any protest. The hierarchy of the police made sure of that
when they issued warnings to the public not to take part in any protest. I
wonder if we would ever experience a protest march to exercise our freedom of
speech and conscience in this country. It seems just about every protests in
Port Moresby have been deemed to be “illegal”. Media freedom is constantly
under threat from a hostile government even social media which is the only
forum available to Papua New Guineans for debate and expression; is
increasingly coming under the government’s microscope. The recent attempt by
the government to introduce a Bill to combat cyber crime is the latest attempt
in its fight to outlaw opposition against the government. This is uncalled for
especially when democracy allows for the creation of a government and an opposition
to ensure proper checks and balances are in place to maintain and strengthen
transparency, accountability and good governance. The term “opposition” is not
only limited to the floor of parliament but can include students, general
public or interest groups. We are deliberately creating an illusion when we
only limit it to the floor of parliament. In PNG the parliament is not an
effective arm of democracy because it often serves and at times bulldozes
pro-government agendas.
The way we have gone about
suppressing our people’s conscience and freedom in the last decade or so makes
me wonder if it is time to reconsider democracy’s future in PNG. Political
stability is not enough to say that we have a “vibrant democracy”. China which
is still a communist government has enjoyed long period of political stability.
However, with attempts to regulate freedom of speech PNG is moving closer
towards a Central Government system like that of China. We need people to
exercise their democratic rights. We need to give our people and democracy a
fair go. So far sadly we are not willing to do so. We are not helping when we
(the custodian of the law) abuse our power to circumnavigate the laws or
violate rights of others. For instance, when we abuse and harass informal
market vendors or bash up members of the public without first exhausting other
available and acceptable means. Equally a tolerant constituency does not
necessarily mean that they are in agreement with the government’s views and
conduct but their opposition could be inhibited by their own ignorance of the
law. Bear in mind that PNG has one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world.
Thus a government who claims mandate to govern via the “ballot box” cannot
claim outright to have the favour of the people due to the widespread cases of
vote rigging during election day in PNG.
I have often felt secured when I
see police officers patrolling the streets but not on that particular Monday.
Their presence aimed at thwarting any gatherings makes me realize the fight
against corruption is only given a “lip service” in this country. Are we
cowards or is it because this country has lost its place in democracy?
Certainly on numerous occasions the erratic, unpredictable and unprecedented
conduct of our government and their institutions towards undermining mechanisms
of justice has raised questions about the vibrancy of our democracy. Anarchy,
police state, kleptocracy, theocracy, guided democracy and dictatorship are
just some of the words used to describe our chameleon system of government. While
these descriptions could be argued as far from reality there is no doubt that
we may have exhibited traits of these various forms of governance since we
gained independence. Thank God we have not surrendered our democracy to these
extreme forms of government. Yet I cannot help but ask how long we are going to
go on like this.
No one individual in this country
should be allowed to exercise unrestrained power to derail justice and
undermine the rule of law. No one person or group is above the law. At the same
time no individual or groups in this country should have their rights neither
denied nor suppressed. Democracy was tested on Monday and it was found to be a
threat unto itself. Is it time for PNG to reconsider its fate?
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