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Somare queries integrity of probe
PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare yesterday questioned the integrity of
the Defence Board of Inquiry, after the inquiry, headed by Justice Gibbs
Salika, prepared a summons for the Prime Minister to give evidence.
The inquiry wants to hear from Sir Michael following revelations by
former director-general of the National Security Advisory Committee
Joseph Assaigo that the Prime Minister had given the order, in his
capacity as chairman of the National Security Council, for Julian Moti
to be removed to Solomon Islands secretly on Oct 10, 2006, to avoid
arrest by Australian federal police.
Mr Assaigo revealed this in an affidavit filed in court to support an
application in which he is fighting charges against him laid by Chief
Secretary Joshua Kalinoe.
The Prime Minister was angered by Mr Assaigo’s claims, and accused him
of lying and suggested that he should be charged with perjury.
The board of inquiry obtained a copy of Mr Assaigo’s affidavit, and has
prepared a summons for the Prime Minister, which will be served on him
when he returns to Port Moresby, for him to appear and give evidence.
But in a statement issued yesterday, Sir Michael said: “I feel it has
now become necessary for me to question the integrity of the board of
inquiry, when it appears not to be guided either by the Constitution,
the processes of government or its terms of reference.
“Let me make it clear to the public that under the PNG Constitution, any
Prime Minister in office DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER to give direct orders
to the judiciary, the police or the defence forces.
“If I am to give orders it would be in my capacity as chairman of the
National Executive Council or as chairman of the National Security
Council. I have been consistent in my remarks on this matter since the
departure of Moti from PNG.
“The board has not found any evidence that suggests that I have given
orders for this clandestine escape to take place.
“It appears that the board has not established from the heads of each of
these departments involved that they are in receipt of any proof that
such instructions were given.
“Furthermore, the public must not be misled to believe that the board of
inquiry has the powers of a commission of inquiry. The board is
investigating the actions of a department. As leader of Government, I do
not report to any department, they report to the Office of the Prime
Minister.”
He said sensational publicity such as the use of the military police to
serve notice to a Prime Minister is deceptive and questionable in its
intent.
“Whether or not the procedures were followed before the operation was
undertaken or that the chain of command had been abused in the events
leading up to and beyond the departure of Moti, has been blurred by the
board’s focus on an individual’s allegations,” the Prime Minister said.
“Under the PNG Constitution, no individual, be it Joseph Assaigo or
persons purporting to carry instructions from Michael Somare, can give
orders to the military to act. The military take their orders from
institutions like the NEC and the NSC.
“This breach that has occurred has serious implications on our national
security and must be fully investigated and corrected so that in future,
individuals cannot repeat this unauthorised action,” he said.
 
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