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Shouting and hurling of insults were the order of the Parliament
session yesterday morning after the Deputy Opposition leader
Bart Philemon attempted to raise another question on the Moti
report.
Names like “you dry coonut,” “son of a b****h, “stupid” and the
“B” words were used by senior Members of the Government and
Opposition.
The Government for the first time, used its numerical strength
in Parliament to stop Mr Philemon raising the Moti affair again
during question time in Parliament.
Mr Philemon asked the Defence Minister about the status of the
Moti report and what he proposed to do with it.
He added that the Speaker had misled Parliament on the matter by
saying that it was before the court.
But Speaker Jeffrey Nape said he had made his stand clear that
he will not entertain any questions related to the Moti affair.
Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare interjected suggesting that it
would be appropriate to take a descending vote for that matter.
Mr Philemon then moved a motion that the Speaker entertain his
question on the Moti report which was seconded by Bulolo MP Sam
Basil.
A vote by voices was taken of which the loudest nays came from
the Government benches.
Opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta said that the behaviour of
the Government in suppressing debate in Parliament of important
public issues was disgraceful.
He said on Tuesday he was stopped from delivering the
Opposition’s response to the Government’s policy statement
delivered by the Prime Minister following the opening of
Parliament.
He said as well as his being denied the opportunity to present
his reply, the Speaker ruled that no questions would be
entertained in question time on the Moti report because the
matter was before the courts.
“This was stated before anyone even stood to ask a question. My
guess is that it had been pre-determined. The Speaker must have
been instructed by the Government to make that statement –
another example of this Government’s string of abuse of
process,” Sir Mekere said.
He added that Parliament was misled by the Speaker who said that
an appeal had been made against Justice Bernard Sakora’s
decision on the Moti report.
Justice Sakora had dismissed application by the parties
concerned that he could not review the report because he was not
in receipt of it.
 
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