Academic wants end to impasse

By SHIRLYN BELDEN
A SENIOR research fellow at the National Research Institute has condemned the continuing political impasse, saying the government must consider the interest of the people and nothing else.   
Dr Henry Okole, in his commentary this week, identified various aspects of the situation and made suggestions as alternatives to resolving the political crisis between Peter O’Neill and Sir Michael Somare. 
“It is about time a semblence of normalcy and common sense is brought back into the Waigani political circles,’’ he said.
“This impasse must not deepen the mysteries of ordinary people – the rightful owners and part-takers of the PNG government.”
Okole noted that more time was taken unnecessarily by members of parliament in fighting for power and leadership in politics – and not representing the people as their mandated responsibility in office.
“The society suffers because the parliament’s role to impart leadership to the state machinery and society is curtailed.
“They (MPs) have a moral obligation to do what is right for the people of this country,” he said.
Okole observed:
qThat MPs, including the prime minister, are peoples’ representatives and should seriously consider a common resolution because they have a moral obligation to do what is right for the people; 
qThe false guise of the Organic Law on the Political Party and Candidates (OLIPPAC). The OLIPPAC was well crafted but was not the right solution for a problem (that is weak parties) at a time when there were other issues already in play. OLIPPAC did not bring stability for PNG when it guaranteed a PM on full term (to change the Somare government through a vote of no confidence), instead it created animosity which the impasse could be a result of; andqTo try to untangle the crisis by picking through the rubble could be impossible and so both leaders must come clear and resolve the issue to reasonably and responsibly deliver to the people.
“A dual legitimacy claim to the executive arm should not go on unresolved indefinitely,’’ he said.
“It undermines our laws and intitutions and it does not protray a positive image of the country abroad. It is time for O’Neill and Sir Michael to put their respective political paraphernalia on the table, talk through the issues and agree to move the country forward to the national elections,” Okole said.
He suggested that it would be best if a group of eminent individuals, either from PNG or beyond, were commissioned to broker the deal as “there is no possibility for a quick solution to be reached if the two leaders were to sort out their differences in court or parliament”.
“Animosity or divisions could be created before any understanding or compromise is reached.”   ==