Protect the Constitution that holds us together, says Nonggorr

By KEVIN PAMBA
ANY attempt to tamper with the Constitution will destablise the nation’s foundation, Prof John Nonggorr told a group of students.
He said it was why the Constitution was so important for Papua New Guinea.
He said the founding fathers of the nation brought together fragmented tribes in the country through the Constitution. And the younger generation owes it to them.
“That is why some of us are standing up for the Constitution,” he said.
“We’ve got to protect it. It holds the nation together.”
Nonggorr said the 860-plus langua­ges and tribal groups were the strength of the country where there no one do­minant group could overpower others.
He told students and staff at the Divine Word University in Madang that the constitutional crisis could be seen as being played out in small pockets of interest groups where “loyalties are divided”.
Nonggorr said the security forces was divided along ethnic and tribal lines.
“And  so is the public service and the people.
“The security forces are divided and everybody else is divided,” he said.
“It may sound funny but that’s the strength that holds our country toget­her.”
He said divided loyalties, while not conducive in some respects, was good for the overall national security of the country.
Nonggorr said in some countries, one ethnic group or tribe dominated the politics or military who then used their dominance to control others in undemocratic ways.