Organic law not working

 THE Organic Law on Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) is not working, political parties say.
In a joint communiqué signed during an emotional and highly-charged meeting in Port Moresby on Saturday, parties spokesman Social Democratic Party general sec­retary David Dom said the OLIPPAC was instituted for the dual purpose of preventing political instability and developing and strengthening a party-based political culture in the country.
“For a brief period, it served its purpose as intended, especially during the tenure of the then Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta,” he said. “However, a Supreme Court interpretation on the OLIPPAC rendered among others, Section 45 unconstitutional and was annulled forthwith. This was the crucial provision which annulled political stability.
“With it being annulled, candidates and parties could switch their allegiance at will. To this day, no attempt has been made to re-establish the power and purpose of the OLLIPAC.
“Thus, it remains a gigantic law without teeth and strength.
“In our opinion, this reflects a government leadership lacking either the will or having ulterior motives or both.”
Dom said the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties realised the need to maintain political stability and good governance, and in consultation with registered political parties, proposed changes to the OLIPPAC.
“The proposed changes were submitted to the current government for endorsement after it went through the compulsory vetting process,” he said. “For reasons now known, the proposed amendments have not been endorsed for Parliament to enact.
“The reason was that the dominant coalition partner (People’s National Congress) and its leadership has an alternative agenda.
“It was to amend the Constitution on the back of the Alotau Accord to accomplish its own version of political stability.
“On the other hand, the gradual and systematic weakening and decimation of its coalition partners and even the Opposition parties through intimidation, cleverly-disguised blackmails and application of divisive tactics.”