Seven MPs leave govt ranks after looting, arson

By FRANK KOLMA
SEVEN Members of Parliament resigned from the Government caucus yesterday, citing as their reason Wednesday’s widespread arson and looting in Port Moresby which continued in other centres.
First-time Parliamentarians in Chuave’s James Nomane and Hiri-Koiari MP Keith Idihu led the charge in the morning, citing not just the events of Wednesday, but the “economic mismanagement” of the country during the term of Marape’s government.
Later in the afternoon, Iduhu was joined by four colleague MPs from the southern region in veteran Abau MP, Sir Puka Temu, David Arore (Sohe), James Donald (North Fly) and Maso Hewabi (Delta Fly).
Firebrand former Opposition Leader Belden Namah also announced his departure from the government ranks. He called upon like-minded Members of Parliament to follow suit.
All who moved blamed the events of Wednesday upon the government and called for the unconditional resignation of Prime Minister James Marape.
Iduhu delivered his letter to the Prime Minister yesterday morning.
His letter reads in part: “With all due respect, yesterday’s events have demonstrated to me that your leadership and the leadership of senior ministers and officials are incapable of fulfilling the sovereign duty of maintaining the rule of law and welfare of our people.
“The core issue surrounding the grievances raised by the disciplinary forces was completely avoidable had it not been for bureaucratic negligence. And the ensuing events even after the Government was made aware of the situation displayed a lack of care for the potential for the situation to spiral out of control.
“Our capital was reduced to a failed state and that is simply unacceptable.
“Throughout the ordeal, I felt your silence and inaction to handle the situation was deplorable – I simply cannot support a Government that stands by while chaos takes over.
“Yesterday’s (Wednesday) crisis was in effect a vote of no confidence in your leadership and the Government by the public, as thousands of public servants took to the streets to protest, the general public disregarded Government directives and law, and the businesses houses who now have zero confidence in our institutions that promised would protect them.”
Nomane said in a video podcast: “Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024 marked a dark day in PNG’s history.
“In an unprecedented action, police protested their pay cuts and our national parliament was stormed, Manasupe Haus was breached and our capital city was pillaged and burnt.
“Wednesday’s crisis marks a loss of confidence in the government from the police, from the defence force, from the public service, from the business houses and from the people of Papua New Guinea.
“What happened yesterday was an indictment on the leadership of the Prime Minister James Marape. No more blame game. No more excuses. The buck stops with the Prime Minister.
“I now unequivocally call on the Prime Minister James Marape to do the honourable thing and resign for being indecisive and weak, resign for allowing the economy to flop, resign for failed law and order, health and education and resign for the country slipping into a banana republic and this crisis happening under your watch,” Nomane said.