Let’s focus on Apec

ILLUSIONIST and stunt performer Harry Houdini would make an elephant disappear on stage right in front of people’s eyes.
How did he do that? Magic? No, illusion.
Magicians master the art of making people believe in what the magicians want them to believe.
They simply control perception by controlling a common human thinking pattern – that what the eye sees and the ear hears, the mind believes. On a similar principle, but on a far larger stage, is politics and misinformation. Misinformation is a political tool which can be used to ignite social unrest or to achieve a political result. It is propaganda, and propaganda is misinformation intended to achieve a specific political outcome.
Propaganda is carefully timed and facilitated by leaders with prestige to give credibility to misinformation. Papua New Guinea’s Opposition is now adopting a dangerous strategy by using hate propaganda to turn citizens against each other. In the guise of national interest, they are using the unions, the students and civil society to drive their political agenda of ill-will. Soon, a spate of violence will sweep across the country.
The planned stop-work protest instigated by the Opposition has to stop immediately and the ringleaders rounded up.
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.
We have a history where good governments are changed by the Opposition using shabby means.
Arguably, the accounts to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s achievements is just colossal.
Right now, the successful hosting of Apec is far more important than internal politics.
The country’s honour and prestige are at stake and we need undivided support from all sectors of our communities. Let us leave all unanswered questions and all internal politics to after the Apec Leaders’ Summit. That includes the hot air being blown around about the Maserati cars, which really is only a storm in a tea cup.

David Lepi, Madang