Veteran bemoans threat to rule of law

LAW

By DYLAN MURRAY
MY uncle Moses Murray has been a lawyer for more than 30 years and has a private practice of his own.
But he had spent years before his law career working in close contact with the country’s constitution, and has become one of its champion defenders.
Known as being all for preserving the constitution, Murray has occasionally made the news to speak out about changes to the constitution or laws that would negatively affect the very people that the law is supposed to protect.
One of the most notable instances of fighting for the public interest in his work was throughout the sea-bed mining saga that made the news a few years back. He did try to get into the room where decisions were made and to have a say on the floor where the decisions were brought to the table. But that proved to be a challenge in itself.
“I stood for five elections, hoping I would get past some of these (people) who have big money,” he said.
“Lo and behold, money matters.”
Murray said that the rule of money was a strong precedence in the country, and so was the rule of tribe.
It was easier to get into office because of the people you knew and the amount of money you had.
He said because of this, the rule of law took a backseat in the affairs of the nation at times.
“The rule of money is real,” he said.
“That’s why this country is going terribly bad. We are not honest anymore!”
When asked if he would contest in another national election, he said he would not.
He said: “You would have to be a money-man to get in.”
Murray said that money often clouded the thoughts and good conscience of the people in a position to make a difference.
He said lawyers often let the promise of money make them take up cases that they did not feel good about that.
They end up tarnishing their reputations and their self-respect by lying in their profession, for money.
In a recent march hosted by the PNG Law Society, he begged younger lawyers to be honest in their profession.
He said that honesty was righteous, but it would also close some doors for some lawyers but that they should be honest and check their conscience.
“If you are an honest lawyer, you will be a poor lawyer,” he said.
He urged all the lawyers in the country to not be swayed by money, and to be honest in the service that they provide to their clients and to the people.
He said a lot of bad things got by the courts because of a lack of honesty.
Murray spoke of how he had not had any instructions or jobs from the Government in years. He said he had discussed this with former Solicitor General Michael Gene, who was gracious enough to give him a job, and what Gene told him stuck with him. Gene said that some government ministers had told him not to give instructions because he was “too honest”.
He said he was glad there were a lot of young women who decided to take up the legal profession.
He had a bit of advice to offer them besides “to be honest”, since some would someday choose to be mothers.
“You will (one day) have children, and the love that you give should not be built on money,” he said.
“If your hard work brings love and the money to raise your children, you will be blessed.”
Murray had maintained a competitive relationship with the late Sir Michael Somare, as both would regularly bump heads for the East Sepik Provincial seat. And they maintained that relationship up until Sir Michael’s passing in 2021.
Although most people would know of the said relationship, the two had actually known each other since they were boys.
Murray recalls having written many submissions for a former prime minister but would not say which.
“With no knowledge of law, I did literal interpretations of the constitution’s final report for all the members of the House of Assembly that time,” he said.
He said he had explained it to members of the House, but that it saddened him that politicians today have had the constitution changed without someone looking into the changes beforehand and calling them out on it.
He likened the Government making changes to the constitution to how one would go to the store to replace dirty underwear.
“My advice to the constitutional officers is, do not listen to politicians,” he said.
He said politicians should not be left to change laws whenever they saw fit.
He said constitutional officers should study the provisions that the Government sought to change and see how that would affect the people.
“And if need be, put your foot down and say no.”