Nobetau refuses to step down

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
Chief Secretary to the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) Joseph Nobetau says he will not step down over allegations of his involvement in the granting citizenship to Indonesian fugitive Djoko Tjandra
Nobetau said yesterday he would not be moved through demands made by former combatants and service providers to the ABG to shut it down if he did not step down.
The former combatants and service providers to the ABG demanded, in a petition dated Dec 3, that Nobetau step down over allegations of his involvement in granting citizenship to Tjandra when he was the acting chief migration officer
Nobetau urged them to lay their complaints with the Ombudsman Commission and the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate.
“The rule of law must prevail,” he said.
“No government should be held hostage to unlawful demands and threats.
“As I have stated publicly, on multiple occasions, grievances such as those stated in the petition should be pursued through the appropriate channels.
“Any person who has information that shows a breach of the law or the Leadership Code can refer those matters to the police or the Ombudsman.
“There is no limit to the scope of current investigations being undertaken by the Fraud Squad and the Ombudsman Commission.
“No leader is above the law and I would again encourage the petitioners to allow these matters to take their proper, lawful course.”
Nobetau also said that the issuance of threats to shut down government and cause major disruption would “damage the reputation of Bougainville in the international community, impact our economy and deter potential investors”.
“I would encourage the petitioners to think carefully about the implications of any actions they may propose to take,” he said.
Nobetau said that he had already addressed the matter of Tjandra previously.
“The granting of permanent residency to Tjandra was a decision of the then minister for immigration, counter to advice from me, and I was not chief migration officer at the time,” he said.
“Tjandra was granted citizenship, and prior to leaving that role, I provided clear and unequivocal advice to the then minister on the matter.
“My conscience is clear and I have encouraged the Ombudsman Commission to pursue those who were responsible.
“I will not be standing down as chief secretary.
“Any decision on my future is a matter for the Bougainville senior appointments committee in the context of my administrative and professional conduct, or the Ombudsman Commission in regard to any alleged breach of the leadership code.”