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DEFENCE Minister Bob Dadae said
yesterday the Moti report would remain “gagged” as it was a
controversial report, despite the decision of the National Court
dismissing a challenge to its validity.
Following the decision handed down by Justice Bernard Sakora on
Wednesday, the Opposition seized the opportunity to call on Prime
Minister Sir Michael Somare to step aside and release the report to the
Defence Minister to make it public and implement the report’s
recommendations.
But sources said Minister Dadae did not have the report, and would seek
the advice of the attorney-general before making a detailed statement on
the issue.
The Prime Minister chose not to make a public statement yesterday on the
court decision and the publication of its findings, and held meetings
with his lawyers and Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari on the issue.
Sir Michael’s media adviser Betha Somare said no comments would come
from the Prime Minister’s office, and referred all queries to lawyer
Kerenga Kua.
Mr Kua told The National he would hold meetings with his client (Sir
Michael) and may release a statement over the weekend.
When confronted by reporters on the issue during a press conference at
Murray Barracks, Minister Dadae appeared unaware of the court decision
initially.
Asked if he would table the report and implement its recommendations, Mr
Dadae responded that “the matter was still before the court”.
When told that a judge had ruled on it, and had dismissed the
applications to nullify the report, he said he would not do anything
with the report.
“That report is very controversial and I do not want to do any thing
with it. Besides I just came into the office (Defence) and want to
concentrate on what I can do to make full use of the PNGDF capabilities
to bring development to the remote areas.”
Opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta yesterday called on the Prime
Minister to step aside and hand over the Moti inquiry report to the
Defence Minister to follow-up, including referral of the inquiry
findings to relevant authorities for consideration of prosecution of
those implicated.
“Justice Sakora’s conclusions are hard-hitting and should be taken to
heart by the Prime Minister. Somare used the court proceedings basically
to suppress the report in the lead-up to the election.
“The Prime Minister is implicated. He has to step aside. He should have
followed the example set by Sir Julius Chan in 1997, when he stepped
aside to allow the Sandline inquiry to take place. Somare did not.”
“He set up an inquiry, tried to stop it, when he could not, and did not
like its findings, he sacked the Defence minister and took
responsibility to act on the report himself, and then unashamedly
“piggy-backed” on the legal proceedings brought by Kalinoe and Ur.
“All of these actions were taken for one reason only – to prevent
publication of the report and to quash its findings.”
Sir Mekere also warned the Prime Minister and other senior members of
Government to refrain from interfering with the authorities that should
now assess the findings of the inquiry report.
“I urge the Police Commissioner, Public Prosecutor and Chief Ombudsman
to follow up the findings of the report as a matter of priority so the
issue could be set to rest soon. It should not be allowed to drag on.”
 
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