Analyse carefully both sides of argument

aIT is very sad that most Papua New Guineans lack critical judgment and careful analysis of national issues.
Our approach towards these issues is often shallow and lacks depth and thought.
While the majority are quick in drawing conclusions and negating certain decisions made by the O’Neill-Namah regime, I believe there are a few deep thinking and constructive political analysts out there who would agree with me that this government’s decisions have a fair bit of substance.
The Judicial Conduct Act that  parliament passed recently is simply to have some control measures in place for judges.
Our people ought to weigh the arguments and understand that judges are not God, who rules accordingly and fairly.
They are merely human beings subjected to family obligations, business links, political affiliations, and in a country like PNG, judges are born with wantokism and nepotism.
There is no law in our Constitution that disallows judges from affiliating with any social, political or econo­mic grouping.
For this reason, I believe judges should be under some form of scrutiny just like everybody else.
The step that this government took is what I believe should have been in place when the Constitution was first enacted by our founding fathers.
If the government is creating this law with the aim of upholding fairness in decisions made by judges, then why are we fighting against a law that will assist us in getting the best judgment out of courts?
On another note, it is a great concern if the government were to delay polling because it is in direct breach of our Constitution.
There are implications, especially when people are deprived of their voting rights.
We have seen it happening in the highlands, with ballot boxes being hijacked, polling officials hacked to death and so on.
I believe the O’Neill-led government’s approach is to enable voters to exercise their democratic rights and if it means delaying the polls for potential voters to register, then laws have to be amended to suit this national interest.
The Constitution was enacted by man and can be amended to suit changing times, just as a book published 10 years ago will surely seem outdated and must be republished to suit present situations.
Papua New Guineans really need to understand two sides of the issue and learn how to react positively and constructively with deeper understanding and detailed deliberation.
Our sovereignty cannot succumb to Australia’s bullying tactics of neo-colonialism to impose sanctions nor can it succumb to fellow countrymen and women who are shallow in analysing issues of national interests.

Peter Kopa
Baura Village,
Tabibuga, WHP