People’s frustrations build up

NON-governmental organisation activist Noel Anjo was in Wabag, Enga, two weeks back.
From 10am to 5pm, he talked to the people there non-stop – all of which was anti-government propaganda. A huge crowd gathered and listened with rapt attention for the entire seven hours of this man’s lengthy discourse.
Witnesses said had somebody tried to interrupt or defend the government at that gathering, they would have been beaten to death.
Such was the intensity of Anjo’s talk and such was the interest the people took.
He has been moving through the highlands and Morobe in a yellow dump truck with other activists drawing crowds and talking the same anti-government talk.
In Wabag, even policemen watched and listened to his talk as he issued nothing less than a direct threat against political leaders.
He told the crowd to be ready, that he would start something against Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare in Port Moresby this month and, when the people hear about it, they should do the same in Wabag.
This was inciting the public to civil unrest, which is a serious crime under the law, but no policemen moved a muscle to arrest or charge him.
Remember that this is the very same Anjo whose protest march in May last year degenerated into looting and violence, mostly directed against Asian businesses in Port Moresby and spread to Lae, Kainantu, Goroka, Mt Hagen, Madang and Vanimo.
Now NGOs are calling on the government to recall parliament within seven days or face a protest march. This also sounds more like a threat to us.
Still, the issues that the NGOs and civil society organisations raised are important national issues which a lot of people think have not been explained fully enough by the government to satisfy them.
These are the same issues that The National had raised repeatedly in the past.
The Maladina amendment, which many see as curtailing the powers and functions of the Ombudsman Commission. While Moses Maladina had, himself, taken newspaper advertisements to explain the reasons for his move, it must be remembered that not everybody gets to read the newspapers and, then, those who do read newspapers do not always read everything in the paper.
That Maladina’s relatives and friends were seriously implicated in Ombudsman Commission investigations into the former Nasfund rot also puts a personal interest angle to the move.
The amendment to the Environment Act also raises serious questions about whose interest the government is supporting – business or the people and our environment. Again, a newspaper advertisement which sought to explain away the government’s motives raised more doubt than certainty and did not satisfy the people.
The controversial re-election of the governor-general is yet another case where questions and suspicion of corruption linger in the minds of most people.
The failure by parliament to produce a report on the anti-Asian business riots of May last year raises serious doubts about whether or not the parliament is serious about addressing issues affecting the nation.
From the initial inquiries that were held in Port Moresby, it became apparent that there is a dangerous challenge facing the nation in relation to the influx of Asians into the business and employment sectors in PNG.
In a hot bed of frustration, resentment, under-employment and crime, we have government departments and agencies admitting to there being absolutely no control or capacity to control the influx of foreigners into the country.
There was evidence presented that suggested serious corruption and the involvement of leaders with foreigners, depriving our own people of jobs and businesses.
Leaders must not think that if we leave an issue long enough, people with forget it. They will not. Not in this event. The matter affects their very livelihood.
May last year was the beginning. The people’s frustration will spill out again and again and, the next time, it might be worse than before.
Last year, quick and independent police action in each location prevented what could have developed into a very nasty case.
The next time, we might not be so lucky. Something tells us that the “next time” might be soon.
Executive government has been irresponsible in not releasing the K3 million to complete the inquiry.
That money must be released soon and the inquiry completed and presented to parliament before the New Year.