Second PNG judge charged with sedition

POLICE have charged Justice Nicholas Kirriwom with sedition, a senior police officer said.
ACP Thomas Eluh said yesterday in a statement that the judge was released on bail under his own recognisance.
Eluh said police made a request yesterday to interview Kirriwom through the National Court registrar.
“Kirriwom agreed and made himself available to be interviewed at 2pm at the mediation centre at the Waigani National Court.
“He was very cooperative and the interview lasted less than an hour,” Eluh, who led a team of police investigators, said.
Kirriwom is expected to appear at the Committal Court at 9am today.
Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia was charged with the same offence last Thursday after police and soldiers tried to arrest him in the courtroom where he was presiding over a case.
There was no repeat of those scenes with Kirriwom, with only a handful of police involved and no soldiers, Radio Australia reported.
The government of Peter O’Neill laid the complaint of sedition against the judges.
It alleged that a Supreme Court ruling last week that O’Neill was not PNG’s legitimate prime minister for a second time was biased and pre-determined.
Kirriwom was one of three judges on the five-man bench, who made the ruling along with Sir Salamo and Les Gavara-Nanu.  Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika and Justice Bernard Sakora reserved their judgment.
Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said he was optimistic that PNG’s elections would go ahead despite the threat of a state of emergency.
Last Friday, the government said it was invoking emergency powers after a tumultuous week.
Carr said he was positive the latest turmoil would not upset the election timetable.
“I am confident elections will go ahead.
“Everything we have seen confirms that and I think that is the optimistic scenario here,” Carr said.
“That’s what gives us hope.
“If PNG pulls off this election – a free and fair election between June 23 and July 6 – it will be not just important for them but a message for the rest of the world, showing here is a developing country that it can deliver elections.”