Politicians must now see sense

GRAND Chief Sir Michael Somare says never in his 43 years as a member of parliament has he come across a more complex political situation than what the nation faces today.
He is probably right. He does not have to look far to find the root cause of the current political problem – the Constitution. Yes, the very Constitution he has steadfastly and faithfully upheld since he became the nation’s prime minister during Independence in 1975.
The Constitution he and most citizens of this land continue to champion and declare as the very foundation of democracy.    
It has become increasingly clear in the past 11 days that there are loopholes – flaws even – in the supreme law of Papua New Guinea that have allowed the current situation to evolve. 
Legal experts on constitutions, including at least one who helped draft the current PNG version, admit that there are sections in it that are confusing and fail to clarify powers and authority vested in important state offices.
Inadvertently, maybe, but the legal experts who drafted the PNG Constitution allowed these defects through. They had then thought that the Constitution was the best tailored for the young nation.
In hindsight, they probably would have changed the defective sections if they thought they would create problems – like 36 years later.  While in the most part it is styled along the constitution of PNG’s colonial ruler then, Australia, there are sections changed to better suit the newly-independent nation. The best example is the power vested in the office of the head of state.
The task at hand, therefore, is to review the Constitution quickly to get rid of the loopholes, rectify the flaws and bring it more in line with the current political life and development. This has to be done immediately to avoid a recurrence of the current situation.
In the meantime, the two factions – led by Sir Michael and Peter O’Neill – disputing who is the legal government have made their points. Sir Michael is right that the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, has reinstated him as prime minister and the Constitution has to be respected.
On the other hand, O’Neill has the majority in parliament which has the sole authority – again, under the Constitution – to elect the prime minister and government.
Both have gone back to the courts to argue their positions. We all know this process could drag on for weeks, even months, leaving government in limbo and, more importantly, continuing the state of confusion and instability in the country. At the end of all this, no one will be the winner.
The people are beginning to get bored with all the political merry-go-round which is also affecting the confidence of the business community and investors.
They do not deserve it. What they deserve instead is normalcy, order and peace to, at least, enjoy Christmas and welcome the New Year with optimism and hope. That’s the least the leaders should do for those who elected them into parliament.
As we have been urging in the past 11 days, they need to start dialogue and come to some agreement on how the nation’s affairs should be run up to the general election at least. For example, a caretaker administration comprising MPs from both sides or a multi-party cabinet to oversee state affairs until a new government is formed.  It’s not hard if they elect to go that way.
But the political power-play must stop. Today. National security and public safety are compromised when leaders blinded by power and greed can no longer think rationally and create a situation which could lead to chaos.
So far, citizens and the business community are relieved because everyone has remained calm in the face of all the commotion, going about their daily activities without allowing themselves to be distracted by the “eyeballing” drama going on at Waigani.
It is equally comforting to see the police and the military maintain some sense of neutrality, avoiding being dragged into the political quagmire which everyday threatens to trigger off a situation which everyone will regret later.
The general election is four months away where citizens are expected to elect leaders they hope will steer this country to prosperity and guarantee a bright future for their children.
The two factions should by now have realised the cause of their current stand-off. And the last thing Papua New Guineans expect of them is to take advantage of the anomalies in the supreme law of the land to push their political agendas
That cannot be their intention. If it is, then they should be ashamed of themselves and not bother standing in the next election.  At a time when they should be showing true leadership qualities by pulling together, they choose to pull apart.
Voters will not easily forget that.