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NATIONAL Alliance Party president Simon Kaiwi and former prime minister
Sir Julius Chan clashed yesterday as the political war of words picked
up in the countdown to the formation of the new Government.
Mr Kaiwi fired the first salvo, saying in a statement he was shocked at
the choice of leadership in the opposing camp, a reference to Sir
Julius.
“During the campaign period, opponents of the NA campaigned on good
leadership and credibility.
“We, in the National Alliance do not see the logic in the choice of Sir
Julius Chan as the alternative prime minister … we seek clarification
both for ourselves and the people of Papua New Guinea,” he said.
“Sir Julius still has to explain to the people of PNG and Bougainville
why he decided to hire mercenaries to resolve the Bougainville conflict.
“In his absence in the last 10 years, PNG has been able to resolve the
conflict and restored normalcy and services on the island.
“The NA-led Government had also worked hard in the last five years to
restore confidence and services that were neglected during the years
that leaders like Sir Julius were in Government.
“Equally, the NA had to pick up the pieces after previous leaders had
borrowed huge overseas loans and devalued the kina before floated it,”
Mr Kaiwi said.
But Sir Julius hit back through a spokesperson, describing Mr Kaiwi’s
comments as “airy fairy” and shows the NA president did not know what he
was talking about.
The blunder on Bougainville was Sir Michael’s doing, and every prime
minister since (Sir Michael) Somare basically inherited it, the
spokesman said.
He said Sir Julius laid the foundation for the peace process through the
Mirigini Charter and the talks in New Zealand which culminated in the
peace agreement when (Sir) Bill Skate and Sir Mekere Morauta took over.
The spokesman said Sir Julius did not devalue the kina because at the
time, he was foreign affairs minister and not prime minister or finance
minister.
The spokesman urged Mr Kaiwi to do his research before making public
statements. |
