Reconciliation event is next step

ONCE the political impasse and the related cases that are currently before the court are disposed of, the next step towards reunification and restoration is a grand reconciliation and peace ceremony.
It is only four months before PNG goes to the polls to elect new members of parliament.
By August, we will have a new prime minister and government.
However, the people will go to the polls with confusion and uncertainty as to what the future holds for us given the enmity and animosity as a result of the political impasse.
Even if all cases were to be disposed of by the court, that would not necessarily mean that the divisions, enmity, animosity, etc, that arose between the Somare and O’Neill regimes would automatically disappear.
It is not likely to happen as not everyone directly or indirectly affected by the impasse will come out a winner in the court’s disposition.
Moreover, prominent personalities, who reached the top of the judiciary, security forces and public service through sheer hard work, have been dragged through the political mud.
They and their families have suffered a great deal of pain and trauma.
Although the court settlement might bring relief, the trauma and animosity would not be easily undone.
Thus a physical reconciliation towards restoration will be the next best step after the court’s disposition.
Whether Sir Michael Somare and Peter O’Neill will be returned in the election or not, reconciliation and reunification should proceed as part and parcel of the whole restoration process for the benefit of PNG.
There must be genuine and lasting reconciliation among the main parties and individuals.
I believe PNG’s traditional way of making peace is one of the best in the world.
The aggrieved parties coming together covered in mud and exchanging animals of all kinds – both domesticated and wild, foods of all types, crafts and artifacts such as bilums, etc, with some amount of cash preceded by heart-moving words of forgiveness, reconciliation, reunification and friendship from the chiefs and the leaders of both sides that moved the crowd to tears is the best.
It entails tangible and material meaning to reconciliation, reunification and restoration.
This process has been tested and proven to be effective in solving va­rious conflicts around PNG and it is the way to put PNG back on track.
It is also the best way for our lea­ders, especially the Grand Chief, to regain the loss of their personal credibility and prestige and move on with life with heads held high.

Francis Nii
Karimui Nomane