Sir Michael’s friend saddened

GRAND Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare was a true leader of this country, with his vision, wisdom and knowledge unparalleled, his close friends say.
He was a man of forgiveness and it was through those characteristics that Papua New Guineans are enjoying their freedom, Grand Chief Boyamo Sali’s family said.
Ps Eddie Sali said one thing his father and Sir Michael had in common was forgiveness, unlike those in parliament today.
Ps Sali said in those times, they didn’t have a political enemy from the opposite side of the house and saw themselves as brothers, companions and servants of the people.
“One thing I heard from my father describing Sir Michael was that there were three elements in life that groomed them to be leaders – cultural aspects, Christian principles and abiding to the laws of the Government,” he said.
“Sir Michael lived a life of forgiveness until his passing.
“He never saw any parliamentarian as his enemy.”
Ps Sali’s mum Tania said the family will be forever grateful for Sir Michael’s support towards the family and the beginning of their political career.
“We lost our first-born daughter and Sir Michael heard about it,” she said.
“He (Sir Michael) did everything possible by chartering a plane to take the body down to Finschhafen (in Morobe) and we will never forget that day.
“Sir Michael’s friendship with Chief Boyamo had grown strong over the years.
“Whenever Sir Michael came to Lae, he always asked for Boyamo so they could meet up for a chat.
“Sir Michael knew Boyamo had done all the dirty works of politics during the formation years leading up to Independence.”
Tania said last September, when Sir Michael was in Lae at the Cross Roads Motel, a request was sent for Boyamo to visit him.
“Both men hugged and shed tears,” she said.
“When we arrived at the motel, Sir Michael said ‘I haven’t eaten my dinner but had to wait for my brother to come’.”
“The order for dinner was placed at about 8.30pm.
“Sir Michael did everything in prayers over food – father’s speedy recovery in health and made these remarks: ‘Maybe this is the last time we are meeting so what can I do for you? You must make a recommendation and send it to me quick so Boyamo can be knighted’.
“Boyamo did not receive knighthood.
“He was bestowed the Logohu Award for Grand Chief.
“Sir Michael promised our dad that this March, he would be knighted.
“Sir Michael told Boyamo: ‘Through you, I’ve been made prime minister and through you, I am who I am today and, therefore, I will not forget you’.
“Their hugging and shedding of tears painted a picture of how strong their friendship was.
“It showed how our father valued Sir Michael and how Sir Michael valued our father.”

The sandal incident that caused a diplomatic row

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
A CONTROVERSIAL and somewhat discriminatory decision by an Australian security officer at Brisbane Airport caused a diplomatic row between Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, then the prime minister, was transiting through the airport to Port Moresby from Auckland on March 24, 2005, after attending a meeting in New Zealand.
When going through security checks, the metal detector indicated a metal plate on his belt.
The security guard instructed him to remove it and go through the detector again, which he did.
However, the controversial issues began when the guard followed Sir Michael into the departure lounge where he was sitting and relaxing in preparation for the flight to Port Moresby.
The guard ordered him to remove his sandals for a security check.
An irritated Sir Michael shouted at him: “What else do you want me to remove?”
Upon arrival in Port Moresby, word spread like wildfire during a time when there was no social media and a protest march to the Australian High Commission on March 30, 2005, was planned.
Sir Michael told the then-foreign affairs secretary Gabriel Pepson to write a protest note to Australia.
More than 500 protesters marched on March 30 to the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby to present a petition demanding an apology and compensation for the incident following the incident. Protesters gathered at a park to hear speakers condemn the Australian treatment of Sir Michael amid placards-waving, tree branches cut and chants: “We love Somare”.
The Australian High Commission was shut down for the day.
Placards condemning Australia’s bullying tactics read: Aussies unfair, No respect, Australians, who are you to disrespect our chief? Downer (then Australian foreign affairs minister) – we will remove more than your shoes, Why search our chief?, PNG is not a terrorist state and many more.
The petition was presented through the commission gates to then-high commissioner Michael Potts as PNG police and security officers watched.
The petition demanded an apology from then-Australian prime minister John Howard for the treatment given to Sir Michael, punishment for security officer involved and compensation paid to the PNG people.
Accepting the petition after being booed by the crowd as he approached the gates, Potts said he would forward it to Canberra “for whatever reply they deem appropriate”.
One of the march organisers, Steven Mera, said the protest was to show Papua New Guineans were disgusted at their leader’s treatment and would not stand by to have their Melanesian culture insulted.
“We can’t continue to be insulted by Australians who continue to impose on us as if we are still a colony of Australia,”Mera said, denying claims that the protest was organised by the Government.
“Our prime minister is a world leader, not just in the Pacific.”