Nobetau denies any role in Tjandra saga

Autonomous Bougainville Government Chief Secretary Joseph Nobetau, pictured, says he was suspended for advising the then Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Ano Pala not to grant Indonesian fugitive Djoko Tjandra PNG citizenship.
Nobetau, who was the acting Chief Migration Officer then, said that it was his successor, the late Mataio Rabura, who had facilitated the granting of citizenship to Tjandra.
Nobetau clarified his position said after the Ombudsman Commission report had implicated him for facilitating Tjandra’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card in 2009.
“The decision to grant Tjandra citizenship was made after I ceased to be Acting Chief Migration Officer,” Nobetau said yesterday.
“My suspension as the Deputy Chief Migration Officer was in part precipitated by an unwillingness on my part to play any role in the granting of citizenship. As evidenced by the decision of the Public Service Commission to exonerate me and overturn my suspension, my integrity remains intact.
“During my tenure, I played no role in relation to the granting of citizenship to Tjandra. This was a matter that was managed by the substantive chief migration officer, the late Mataio Rabura, after his appointment in close consultation with the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Ano Pala.
“Prior to ceasing as Acting Chief Migration Officer, I provided extensive briefing to Pala, at his request, where I made it clear that the constitution limit his powers to confer citizenship on an individual who did not meet the mandated constitutional requirements.
“I have copies of this advice on October 2012. This advice was provided in direct response to a request by the then minister with respect to his powers to confer citizenship on Tjandra. I would note that in 2011 the then minister exercised powers available to him to exempt Tjandra from the legal requirements to obtain permanent residence. This is a matter of public record and was political decision made by the minister at the time. It was not an administrative matter and I played no role in that decision.”
On the issue of the alleged granting of an Apec business travel card to Tjandra in 2009, Nobetau said: “I have no recollection of this matter.
“However, I would note that as a non-citizen of Papua New Guinea that Tjandra would not have been eligible for a PNG issued Apec business card and would question whether a card was actually issued in his real name.
“I would note that the issuance of Apec card is governed by a specific framework where the granting of entry rights is approved by specific Apec member economies.
“I cannot see any legal basis on which Trjandra would have been granted a PNG endorsed Apec business travel card other than through fraudulent means.
“Even if he was, the fact that Tjandra was the subject to an Interpol Red Notice and an outstanding arrest warrant would have significantly inhibited his ability to travel within the region under his real name.
“For my part, I stand ready to provide any assistance necessary by way of evidence to the Commission regarding the advice I provided to Government.”