Apec needs unity

THE people are sick and tired of being set against each other by politicians who want us divided so they can easily exploit us and extend their political interest.
The word on the street now is that the opposition is planning to stage a stop-work protest just as the country is putting in the final touches to host the leaders of the world’s biggest economies.
The opposition is now stooping low and taking its politics to the streets and I have a word for that: Sedition.
Sedition by definition is conduct or language used to incite rebellion against the State, including the undermining of a cause and/or interfering with production, work, school, etc.
Sedition also involves inciting insubordination, disloyalty and mutiny or refusal to perform a duty.
Like treason, sedition is a direct attack to the State.
Punishment for sedition varies across countries but are seriously applied, such as in United States where it is 20 years’ imprisonment. In some countries, you might end up being stripped naked and hung at the power pole.
This is a time to leave politics aside.
It is a time when the country should be united in our true Melanesian brotherhood way and find a uniting spirit to be good hosts to world leaders.
The opposition and government should be taking a bi-partisan approach to Apec to ensure its success.
Promoting the country’s image should take centre stage because Papua New Guinea’s honour is at stake. We should all set aside all forms of internal politics and unite.
The government may have made some unpopular decisions and, yes, the economy is struggling, but we’ll deal with that in our own time.
For now, let us focus on Apec and make Papua New Guinea proud as a nation among equals.

David Lepi, Imbonggu, SHP